[AstroNet] Fw: SKA: Partners Agree on Funding for Design of Square Kilometre Array

[Case Rijsdijk]

Dear All,

This may be of interest.

Kind regards

Case

>
> 23 November 2011
>
> Contact:
> Jo Bowler
> Outreach Officer, SKA Program Development Office, UK
> +44 (0)161 275 4130; mobile: +44(0)7887 824 758
> bowler at skatelescope.org
>
> ** Additional contacts appear below. **
>
> Text & Images:
> http://www.skatelescope.org/?p=2666
>
> INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS JOIN FORCES
> AND AGREE ON FUNDING FOR DETAILED DESIGN
> OF SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY TELESCOPE
>
> Seven national governmental and research organizations today announced
> the formation of the SKA Organization, an independent, not-for-profit
> company established to formalize relationships with international
> partners and centralize the leadership of the Square Kilometre Array
> (SKA) telescope project. The signatories from Australia, China, Italy,
> the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK plan to spend
> €69M (including in-kind contributions) to fund the project in the
> period leading up to the construction phase which starts in 2016.
> Further signatories are expected to join the SKA Organization and
> commit additional resources in the next six months.
>
> The SKA is a €1.5 billion global science project to build the world’s
> largest and most sensitive radio telescope. Scientists and engineers
> from around the world, together with industry partners, are
> participating in research and development for the SKA which will be
> capable of answering some of the most fundamental questions about the
> Universe. The SKA will give astronomers insight into the formation and
> evolution of the first stars and galaxies after the Big Bang, the role
> of cosmic magnetism, the nature of gravity, and possibly even life
> beyond Earth.
>
> Professor John Womersley, Chair of the founding board that prepared
> the formation of the SKA Organization said: “I am delighted that the
> partners have recognized the scientific, economic and societal
> benefits that investing in international science projects like the SKA
> can bring.”
>
> The new SKA Organization will directly employ staff, have the power to
> make legally binding decisions and lead the work of the international
> partners on the design of the telescope.
>
> Professor Richard Schilizzi, Director of the SKA project said: “We are
> keen to start reaping the rewards that this new structure will bring,
> not only to the engineering development work, but to the project as a
> whole.”
>
> The office of the SKA Organization will be located in purpose-built
> premises funded by the University of Manchester at Jodrell Bank in
> Cheshire, UK. The office will take over from the SKA Program
> Development Office (SPDO) currently based at the University. Dr.
> Michiel van Haarlem is to be appointed Interim Director General of the
> new SKA Organization following the retirement of Professor Schilizzi
> at the end of the year.
>
> The SKA project will drive technology development in antennas, fiber
> networks, signal processing, software and computing, and power. The
> design, construction and operation of the SKA have the potential to
> impact skills development, employment and economic growth in science,
> engineering and associated industries, not only in the host countries
> but in all partner countries. The SKA telescope itself will be located
> in either Australia-New Zealand or South Africa and other African
> countries. A decision on the location of the SKA telescope will be
> made in 2012.
>
>                           # # #
>
> Signatory organizations:
> Australia - Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
> China - National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
> Italy - National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF)
> New Zealand - Ministry of Economic Development
> Republic of South Africa - National Research Foundation (NRF)
> The Netherlands - Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)
> United Kingdom - Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
>
> Country-Specific Contacts:
> Australia
> Jerry Skinner
> Public Affairs Officer
> Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
> +61 2 6213 6298; mobile: +61 410 221 806
> jerry.skinner at innovation.gov.au
>
> China
> Lijia Liu
> National Astronomical Observatories
> Chinese Academy of Sciences
> ljliu at nao.cas.cn
>
> Italy
> Francesco Rea
> Head of Public and Media Relations Office, INAF
> +39 06 35533 227; mobile: +39 335 135 8069
> francesco.rea at inaf.it
>
> New Zealand
> Miles Erwin, Senior Communications Advisor
> Ministry of Economic Development
> +64 297 710 013; mobile: +64 4 474 2891
> miles.erwin at med.govt.nz
>
> Republic of South Africa
> Mr. Tommy Makhode
> South African Department of Science and Technology
> +27 12 843 6793; mobile: +27 82 379 8268
> tommy.makhode at dst.gov.za
> or
> Thabiso Nkone
> NRF, South Africa
> +27 12 481 41 49; mobile: +27 83 494 2322
> thabiso.nkone at nrf.ac.za
>
> The Netherlands
> Information and Communication Department, NWO
> +31 703440741
> voorlichting at nwo.nl
>
> United Kingdom
> Stephanie Hills
> Media Manager, STFC
> +44 (0)1235 445398; mobile: +44 (0)7825 113719
> stephanie.hills at stfc.ac.uk
>
> The Square Kilometre Array will be the world’s largest and most
> sensitive radio telescope. The total collecting area will be
> approximately one square kilometer giving 50 times the sensitivity,
> and 10,000 times the survey speed, of the best current-day telescopes.
> With thousands of receptors extending out to distances of 3,000 km
> from the centre of the telescope, the SKA will address fundamental
> unanswered questions about our Universe including how the first stars
> and galaxies formed after the big bang, how galaxies have evolved
> since then, the role of magnetism in the cosmos, the nature of
> gravity, and the search for life beyond Earth. More than 70 institutes
> in 20 countries, together with industry partners, are participating in
> the scientific and technical design of the SKA telescope which will be
> located in either Australia - New Zealand or South Africa and other
> African countries. The target construction cost is €1.5 billion and
> construction could start as early as 2016.