HartRAO Home > news > NRF joins JIVE 2012/05/10

The agreement marks a new level of partnership between Europe and South Africa in science, and is expected to act as an additional mechanism in promoting the growth of science in South Africa, with developmental benefits well beyond the field of radio astronomy.

The agreement recognises that South Africa has long been a key partner of Europe in the field of radio astronomy through its contribution to European VLBI Network (EVN) with its operational radio telescopes at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) and radio astronomy facilities in the Northern Cape, Karoo area (KAT-7 and MeerKAT). Moreover, the agreement also indicates a joint desire to bring other African telescopes into the operational VLBI Network.

In affirming South Africa's commitment to VLBI studies, Dr Michael Gaylard, Managing Director of the NRF's Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory said "HartRAO is currently commissioning a second radio telescope at Hartebeesthoek for VLBI. This is the 15m diameter radio telescope built as the first prototype leading to the Karoo Array Telescope, which has been outfitted with a new receiver system developed at HartRAO. It will supplement the 26m telescope which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, and creates new science opportunities".

In the Karoo, "the KAT-7 array of seven 12m radio telescopes is now producing science images, as its capabilities continue to be expanded by the KAT development team. In due course this will also become VLBI capable and be able to work with the European VLBI Network as well" said Dr Bernie Fanaroff, SKA South Africa Project Director.

"We are most excited that this collaboration will not only aid in promoting South Africa's commitment and continued quest to safeguard and promote the science of astronomy and forge more international science relations, but that the agreement will facilitate joint PhD projects as well as the provision of scientific and RnD support to the development of the future radio astronomy projects. It demonstrates the determination to fulfill our mandate to support the creation of knowledge, innovation and development, thereby contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of all South Africans" said Dr Gansen Pillay, the deputy CEO of the National Research Foundation.