Bernie Faranoff honoured by Wits University

Dr Bernie Fanaroff was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate by the Wits University early Wednesday. ...read more

SKA partners with IBM on ‘big data’ project

Using the systems available today to process the data that will be generated by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), it will take the equivalent of two nuclear power stations — about seven gigawatts a year — to power it, says Ton Engbersen, DOME project leader at IBM Research. ...read more

Oleg Smirnov: A career owed to the SKA

"You could say my entire academic career is owed to the SKA," said Professor Oleg Smirnov, who holds the SKA SA Research Chair in Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies (RATT), at Rhodes University, and heads up the new Radio Astronomy Research Group at the SKA SA office in Cape Town. ...read more

Square Kilometre Array funding doubled to give big boost to SA science

THE allocation to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope would more than double to R2bn, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced in his budget speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday. ...read more

Africa takes to the skies in technological drive

Radio astronomy is one area where the continent is pushing scientific engagement, writes Sarah Wild ...read more

Elephants in the room

Leading researchers from all over the globe are currently in the vicinity for the first series of workshops on the third-generation calibration (3GC3) in radio astronomy in Africa, hosted Rhodes University. ...read more

Experts in Port Alfred study SKA

THE world’s leading radio astronomers – and the next generation of young up-and-coming scientists – have gathered in Port Alfred to brainstorm ways to improve the design of vital telescopes that will be used in the Square Kilometre Array. ...read more

Can we afford to overlook elephants in the room as we design and build SKA?

Rhodes University will be hosting the first series of workshops on the third-generation calibration (3GC3) in radio Astronomy in Africa at the Halyards Hotel, Port Alfred from 10-22 February 2013. ...read more

Once upon a starry night: The story (so far) of the Square Kilometre Array

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will eventually become the most sensitive radio telescope ever built, able to survey the heavens more than 10 000 times faster than current technologies. ...read more

SKA to give competitive advantage to SA

In technology, radio astronomy is still running off the success of the 1980s, says Rhodes University’s new Square Kilometre Array (SKA) research chairman, Oleg Smirnov. ...read more

SA made the right decision to bid for SKA

South Africa, with its relatively small science budget, has to choose which projects to support with its limited resources. ...read more

SKA headlines a bumper year for Department of Science and Technology

This year was probably the Department of Science and Technology’s most exciting in its 10-year existence. ...read more

SKA science building SA skills

South Africa is building local capacity to tackle its share of the massive Square Kilometre Array project in the Northern Cape province. ...read more

Top science students at Rhodes' RATT to solve SKA challenges

Rhodes University has been awarded an SKA Research Chair, and has used it as a base for the new Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies (RATT). Minister Naledi Pandor opened the centre on 27 August 2012 in Grahamstown as part of celebrating South Africa's successful SKA bid. ...read more

The team behind the Square Kilometre Array

Few ambitious astro-science endeavours have garnered as much international attention as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world. Nine years after South Africa’s first submission to the International SKA Steering Committee (ISSC), South Africa is now celebrating its selection as host of the majority of the SKA project. ...read more

A world leader in Radio Astronomy

That South Africa is on the world Radio Astronomy horizon in such a way as to have successfully won two-thirds of the SKA bid, is to a significant extent due to the impact of academics and graduates of the Radio Astronomy research programme at Rhodes University. ...read more

Challenging Einstein

Professor Justin Jonas - Associate Director for Science and Engineering of South Africa’s SKA programme and Professor of Physics and Electronics at South Africa’s Rhodes University. ...read more

Straddling diverse worlds

Dr Adrian Tiplady’s “diverse skills set” have been credited by Professor Justin Jonas, head scientist of the local Square Kilometre Array Project (SKA) and Professor of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University, as key to South Africa’s bid. ...read more

High praise for SKA team from Pandor

SA won eye in sky bid but Australia 'threw toys out cot' THE stars of South Africa's winning bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope have been praised by Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor. ...read more

SKA telescope to turn brain drain in SA into brain gain By Sarah Wild

THE multibillion-rand Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope is attracting some of the best brains within and outside SA and is causing an "inverse brain-drain", according to SKA SA director Bernie Fanaroff. ...read more

South Africa: SKA Bid Cost R1.1 Billion But Jobs Already in the Offering

The bid for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope to be situated in South Africa cost R1.1 billion over nine years, said Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor in Parliament on yesterday. ...read more

The SKA sets universities abuzz

South African universities have welcomed the establishment of the world’s most powerful radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). ...read more

Rhodes astronomer gets prestigious post

RHODES University is reaching for the stars after a top international scientist accepted a prestigious academic post that will see him sharing his time between Grahamstown and the Square Kilometre Array. ...read more

Split site may be solution for SA and Australia in rivalry over SKA hosting

THE soonest SA and Australia can hope for a decision about where the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be located is May 25, when members of the SKA Organisation meet. ...read more

Much at stake in race to host SKA

South Africa is waiting with bated breath for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) site decision, expected on Friday, which will indicate whether South Africa or Australia will host the biggest scientific project in the world. ...read more

SKA, MeerKAT boost specialist companies

SA'S Square Kilometre Array (SKA) bid, and the construction of the MEERKAT radio telescope, have been a lifeline for highly specialised micro-companies. ...read more

DST connects rural universities

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is investing R78 million in connectivity for six remotely-located higher education institutions. ...read more

SKA site selection may be announced on Friday

South Africa, which is up against Australia to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), could hear on Friday whether it has been selected as the site for the world’s largest radio telescope array. ...read more

SA holds breath as SKA decision looms

South Africa may find out on Friday whether it has won the bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). ...read more

Dual site agreed for Square Kilometre Array telescope

The Members of the SKA Organisation today agreed on a dual site solution for the Square Kilometre Array telescope, a crucial step towards building the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope. ...read more

SA’s eye-on-the-sky triumph

SA’s SKA success has been hailed as a major scientific coup which will bring scientists here from all parts of the world, offering important opportunities for job creation. ...read more

SKA is about ground-breaking science, not egos

Having both Australia and South Africa on board will enable the SKA to perform the best science possible. That should be the focus, not our egos. ...read more

Impatience and politics lead to SKA site split

SOUTH AFRICA had to give up a slice of the world's biggest astronomy project this week to avoid any further delays in its implementation. ...read more

Top international SKA scientist joins Rhodes

RHODES University is reaching for the stars after a top international scientist accepted a prestigious academic post that will see him splitting his time between Grahamstown and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). ...read more

Split SKA still an ego boost for SA

IT IS a measure of SA'S tender national ego that the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope project developed a sense of national competition somewhat akin to winning the right to hold an international sporting tournament. Even after the announcement this weekend that SA will share the project - one of biggest science projects in history - with a bid from Australia and New Zealand, South African commentators were still quick to point out that most of the equipment would be situated here. ...read more

Now for the hard work in gigantic SEA project

SA BOFFINS REARING TO GO NOW that it is known where the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be hosted the hard work can begin, say two lead members of the SKA SA project team. ...read more

Work begins on SKA details

'PICKING SITE WAS EASY PART' NOW that it is known where the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is to be hosted, the hard work can begin, say two lead members of the SKA SA project team. It was announced on Friday that SA, with eight African partner countries, would host the project with Australia, paired with New Zealand. ...read more

SKA goes into referee's optional extra time

If the Square Kilometre Array bid was a rugby game between South Africa and Australia, the latest call from the referee would be: “Both of you have invested so much, we’re going to spend another month deciding how we can end this so everyone wins”. ...read more

SA, Australia may have to accept sharing SKA

The South African and Australian governments seem to agree on one thing: they are both ready to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and diplomacy has tamped down on their frustration at another delay in the site decision. ...read more

SKA: Searching for the origins of the universe

With the decision for the hosting site for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope imminent, Origins Centre brings you a talk on the subject. ...read more

Germany joins SKA, praises SA

GERMAN Education and Research Minister Annette Schavan said yesterday that her country would be joining the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Organisation. ...read more

Germany, SA initiative to boost local innovation

A research co-operation initiative between Germany and South Africa can help South Africa develop more local innovations, the Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor said on Monday. ...read more

SKA delay could end in a draw

A SHARED site is now being mooted as a win-win outcome for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, after the organisation's founding board decided to convene a group to investigate maximising "the value from the investments made by both sides". ...read more

Great astronomy, with or without SKA

South Africa is one of two finalists bidding to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and with its rival Australia is awaiting the recommendation of the SKA Site Advisory Committee, due in February 2012. ...read more

Square Kilometre Array funding doubled to give big boost to SA science

The allocation to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope would more than double to R2bn, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced in his budget speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday. ...read more