The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is a collaboration between institutions representing 17 countries to establish the worlds largest next generation radio telescope. This Euro 1billion major international project, with an operating budget estimated at Euro 70M p.a., will comprise thousands of 12m dishes distributed across thousands of kilometres. This vast spread of radio receivers, 100 times more sensitive than the most powerful currently in existence, will be capable of far greater penetration into the depthsof the universe. The potential for exciting new discoveries on the origins of our universe is set to revolutionise astronomy, physics and many other areas of science.
The bid to host the SKA is now between two regions, South Africa and Australasia.
If Australia wins the bid New Zealand has the opportunity to be part of the project with an envisioned 2-3 stations located in the North Island and in the South Island. (One station is a collection of 40-45 radio telescopes). This will increase the east-west baseline of the SKA to over 5500km.
The Ministry of Economic Development is leading New Zealand’s participation on the joint Australia/New Zealand bid to host the SKA Radio Telescope; the “Australia and New Zealand SKA project” (anzSKA).
Further contacts are:
New Zealand SKA Industry Consortium (NZSKAIC)
The New Zealand SKA Industry Consortium (NZSKAIC) is composed of representatives from NZICT Group, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and the Ministry of Economic Development (MED). NZICT Group is the industry organisation representing IT software, hardware, networks, services, education and training providers in New Zealand.
Chair: Dougal Watt, Chief Technologist, IBM New Zealand
Ph: +64 (09) 359-8630
Email: dwatt@nz1.ibm.com
New Zealand SKA Research and Development Consortium (NZ SKARD)
Chair: Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt (Victoria University Wellington)
Postal Address:
SKA Research & Development Consortium
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P.O Box 600
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Deputy-Chair: Dr Tim Molteno (University of Otago)
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