Speaking at the SKA bursary annual conference in Stellenbosch, Science and Technology minister, Naledi Pandor, noted that several milestones related to the local Square Kilometre Array (SKA) precursor had been achieved.
“South Africa is committed to providing the world with the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere – until the SKA is completed. Already today – five years before the MeerKAT Array goes online for science operations in 2016 – 43,000 hours of observing hours have been allocated, including to consortia led by many internationally renowned astronomers,” she explained.
SA is in the final stages of the bid to host the world’s largest array of radio telescopes. Later this month, nine countries are scheduled to commit preliminary funds to get the project off the ground. Then, in February 2012, South Africa or Australia will be chosen as the final site for the project.
Pandor also emphasised the commitment from other African countries, saying it would make the local bid stronger.
Mauritius is working with South Africa on the construction of a low frequency radio telescope called MITRA. MITRA will have array stations in Durban and in Port Louis.
The University of Zambia is visiting the Durban University of Technology this week to explore the expansion of the MITRA telescope to include Zambia.
Ghana has recently acquired a 30-metre antenna from Vodafone . This antenna will be converted into a radio telescope with the assistance of South Africa. Together with Nigeria, Ghana will be next to have large dish antenna that can participate in the African VLBI Network.
“We are working with Brazil to develop a programme that will attract Portuguese-speaking students from any African country to study astronomy at MSc and PhD level in Brazil. We expect the selection process to be completed in the next few months. It is partnerships like these that demonstrate the ability of South Africa to foster south-south partnerships,” Pandor revealed.
She added that boosting the training and education of scientists and technicians, for radio astronomy specifically, but science and engineering more generally, has always been a critical driver for South Africa’s SKA investment.
The South African SKA Project Office alone has awarded close to 300 grants and scholarships. Students and scientists from several African countries have benefitted from these grants under a dedicated programme worth 15 million Euros.
“This is important to highlight, since South Africa’s investment is not only boosting the African talent pool but also contributes to enriching the global scientific expertise available for radio astronomy,” she noted.
– Saitnews.co.za
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