SKA Observatory: exploring a universe of possibilities

Event
09 August 2024 IAU General Assembly side event: Nerina & Protea CTICC 2
IAU General Assembly delegates are invited to attend a special, day-long event on Friday 9 August to hear the latest updates from the SKA Observatory (SKAO), the next-generation radio astronomy facility.
The image is a collage of black and white photos of the 14 speakers of the SKAO day and their professions. All are women and are smiling at the camera.

In collaboration with international partners, the SKAO is building two revolutionary new radio telescopes, one hosted in South Africa’s Northern Cape and one in Western Australia, which will undoubtedly transform our understanding of the Universe.
 
During the day-long event coinciding with Women’s Day in South Africa and International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, members of Team SKA will reveal the latest construction progress at both telescope sites and showcase how we are building partnerships with local and Indigenous communities to create long-term benefits for our local neighbours. We will also detail how the science community can already get involved as we prepare for science verification and early operations. This includes information on science timelines, what users can expect in areas such as telescope capabilities and access, the current tools available for the community, and updates on the development of the SKA Regional Centre network where users will access Observatory data products.
 
The packed day of talks and panel discussions will also encompass the current preparations for SKA science including an update on the Science Data Challenges; sustainability as a foundation for our activities; and opportunities to work for the SKAO.

Remote participation is possible through the conference platform. Interested participants need to register for the conference, with day passes available for EUR 125. In-person attendees will need to display their conference pass to access the event.

Both online and in-person participants are invited to register for the SKAO day here to help us plan the event.

The image describes the session, date and time, and includes 4 images representing the themes that will be discussed: science with the SKA, delivering the SKA Observatory, capabilities and operational model, and opportunities and community engagement.

SKA Observatory: exploring a universe of possibilities timetable

Time (SAST)

Topic 

Speaker 

10:30 - 10:35

Welcome

Pontsho Maruping

10:35 - 10:50

The next generation of radio astronomy

Sarah Pearce

10:50 - 11:05

Progress towards building and operating the SKA-Mid telescope in South Africa

Tracy Cheetham

11:05 - 11:20

Progress towards building and operating the SKA-Low telescope in Australia

Cathryn Trott

 

11:20 - 11:35

Partnering with Aboriginal communities in Australia

Jennylyn Hamlett

11:35 - 11:50

Up-skilling local communities through human capacity development programmes in South Africa

Nomfundo Makhubo 

12:00 - 1:30 

Lunch 

 

1:30 - 1:45

Managing the delivery of the SKA telescopes

Nontobeko Mnyandu

1:45 - 2:00

The science of the SKA

Wendy Williams

2:00 - 2:15

Science operations of the SKAO

Sharmila Goedhart

2:15 - 2:30

How the community can get involved

Nichol Cunningham

2:30 - 2:45

Pipelines for data product delivery

Danielle Fenech

2:45 - 3:00

SKAO recruitment opportunitiesShari Breen

3:00 - 3:30

Coffee break 

 

3:30 - 3:45

Timeline to science with the SKA

Shari Breen

3:45 - 4:00Enabling SKA science in the global SKA Regional Centre NetworkRosie Bolton

4:00 - 5:15

Panel discussion 

Naomi McClure-Griffiths, Sarah Pearce, Shari Breen, Tracy Cheetham, Danielle Fenech, Rosie Bolton

 

We recognise and acknowledge the Indigenous peoples and cultures that have traditionally lived on the lands on which our facilities are located. In Australia, we acknowledge the Wajarri Yamaji as the Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders of Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, the site where the SKA-Low telescope is being built.