New Canadian initiative to develop next generation of scientific leaders

Impact

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has begun an innovative new programme to foster inclusive research using SKAO data and develop future scientific leaders with a foundation in community support and engagement.

The Canadian SKA Scientist Programme will fund top-level postdoctoral researchers at Canadian universities to pursue their own cutting-edge, independent research focused on SKAO science goals, using data from SKA precursors and pathfinders including the Canadian CHIME telescope. The selected scientists will also be tasked with supporting the Canadian astronomical community to take full advantage of access to the SKA telescopes and their data. The first cohort is expected to start in late 2025 and will begin the formation of a network of SKA experts across Canada.

“The Canadian SKA Scientist Programme aims to help superb young scientists make their own exciting discoveries and ensure that Canadian researchers have effective and equitable access to the full potential of the SKA telescopes,” explains Michael Rupen, NRC’s SKA Programme Lead. “The Programme will also ensure that future scientific leaders have a solid foundation in community support and engagement.”

For more than three decades, Canadian astronomers have been at the forefront of defining the fundamental science and necessary technologies for the SKA project, and today the country is supplying key technological components, including the SKA-Mid telescope’s correlator and low-noise amplifiers. Canada will also host the only SKA Regional Centre in the Americas, an important node in the international SKA Regional Centre Network which will provide astronomers with access to science-ready data products.