Minister Pandor to visit Square Kilometre Array site

25 March 2010

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, together with the Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Hazel Jenkins, will lead a high-level ministerial visit to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) site in Carnavon in the Northern Cape, on 30 March 2010. This is aimed at celebrating a major milestone in Africa’s international bid to host the SKA, which is deemed to be the world’s most powerful radio telescope.

A core component of the country’s bid initiative is the design and construction of an operational demonstrator telescope, the MeerKAT. To achieve this objective, the construction of the seven-dish Karoo Array Telescope (KAT-7) serves as the Meerkat precursor array. The minister’s visit to the region is in celebration of the successful construction of the seventh and final dish of the KAT-7, which was completed ahead of schedule in early 2010. This is a significant milestone, which positions Africa well ahead of Australia, the only other remaining contender in the bid to host SKA.

The achievement also clearly demonstrates Africa’s existing capabilities in science and technology and positions the continent more favourably to host the telescope as a collective of African partner countries (Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya, Ghana and Zambia). The KAT-7 will serve as both an engineering test-bed and as an operational radio telescope. The MeerKAT will be one of the largest scientific research facilities in the world and will consolidate Africa as a major global hub for astronomy in the world.

It will attract the best scientists and engineers to work in Africa and will provide unrivalled opportunities for scientists and engineers from across Africa to engage with transformational science and cutting-edge instrumentation, as well as to collaborate in joint projects with the most renowned universities and research institutions in the world.

NB: All media are invited to take part in the ministerial visit to Northern Cape. The Department of Science and Technology will cover transportation and accommodation costs for a limited number of journalists.

RSVP no later than 12h00 on Friday, 26 March 2010:
Veronica Mohapeloa
Tel: 012 843 6788
Cell: 082 882 3818
E-mail: veronica.mohapeloa@dst.gov.za

Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: 012 843 6802
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
25 March 2010