SKA telescope

International astronomers and government representatives met last week to assess the opportunities offered by building the world’s largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

International astronomers and government representatives met in Cape Town last week to assess the opportunities offered by building the world’s largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

The SKA Forum focused on the benefits of the project for participating countries and the importance of science and skills in overcoming the negative impact of the economic downturn.

Proffesor John Womersley, of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), said: ‘The world’s current and future challenges demand scientific thinkers and technological innovation.

‘The quickest way to get out of the economic dilemmas is to be able to evolve scientifically and that requires a scientifically trained workforce.’

The SKA will involve thousands of dishes and other collecting devices working together as one instrument with a joint receiving surface of one square kilometre.

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