PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: Massive science project on track in South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – A state-of-the-art broadband centre intended to support the work of South Africa’s multi-million-dollar Square Kilometre Array (SKA) has opened at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth.
Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor said the new centre was an example of how the massive project would lift countries throughout the continent.
Addressing delegates from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia, Pandor confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed by BRICS members to facilitate collaboration on science and technology, among other areas of interest. BRICS member states are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
"BRICS, recognising the importance of the SKA, has designated South Africa to lead cooperation in the area of astronomy. China and India are already active partners in the SKA project, and Brazil and the Russian Federation have expressed their strong interest to be involved. These are important developments for the continent as we prepare to host the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope," she said.
Construction on the massive science project is underway in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape province. About 200 parabolic antennas are being erected in South Africa, while Australia — the other host country — will have more than 100,000 dipole antennas. The project will extend into other African countries.
When completed in 2024, about 3,000 radio telescopes will scan the universe, producing data that scientists will be able to process around the world.
-0- PANA CU/MA 27March2015
Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor said the new centre was an example of how the massive project would lift countries throughout the continent.
Addressing delegates from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia, Pandor confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed by BRICS members to facilitate collaboration on science and technology, among other areas of interest. BRICS member states are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
"BRICS, recognising the importance of the SKA, has designated South Africa to lead cooperation in the area of astronomy. China and India are already active partners in the SKA project, and Brazil and the Russian Federation have expressed their strong interest to be involved. These are important developments for the continent as we prepare to host the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope," she said.
Construction on the massive science project is underway in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape province. About 200 parabolic antennas are being erected in South Africa, while Australia — the other host country — will have more than 100,000 dipole antennas. The project will extend into other African countries.
When completed in 2024, about 3,000 radio telescopes will scan the universe, producing data that scientists will be able to process around the world.
-0- PANA CU/MA 27March2015
