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“Promoting European African scientific partnerships: the case of radio astronomy” with Minister Naledi Pandor

General Info

Start date:2011-11-07

End date:

On November 7th, 2011, the European Parliament Delegation for relations with South Africa is holding an exchange of views on “Promoting European African scientific partnerships: the case of radio astronomy” with Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister for Science and Technology of South Africa. Other speakers include Dr Bernie Fanaroff, Director of South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project Office and Prof George Miley, Vice President of the International Astronomical Union. Further information can be found at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/organes/d-za/d-za_20111107_1500.htm

On November 7th, 2011, the European Parliament Delegation for relations with South Africa is holding an exchange of views on “Promoting European African scientific partnerships: the case of radio astronomy” with Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister for Science and Technology of South Africa. Other speakers include Dr Bernie Fanaroff, Director of South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project Office and Prof George Miley, Vice President of the International Astronomical Union.

Southern Africa is an increasingly important hub within the global astronomy network, due to a combination of geographical advantages and government support. South Africa already hosts the southern hemisphere’s largest single optical telescope – the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). Namibia, meanwhile, is host to the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS), a next generation imaging system for the investigation of cosmic gamma rays. A range of cutting-edge projects now under development are set to add to this research base.

PAPER (Precision Array to Probe the Epoch of Re-ionization) is a radio interferometer –a system of radio telescopes linked to create one larger telescope. Requiring extremely low radio interference, the project is exploiting Southern Africa’s unique geographical characteristics to detect the signatures of the first stars and galaxies using new signal processing technology. The same region now hosts the southern hemisphere component of the C-Band All Sky Survey (C-BASS), a project which brings together universities from the USA, UK, South Africa and Saudi Arabia to map the polarisation of galactic radio emissions from the Milky Way. Close to this site, the MeerKAT project is set to be the largest radio astronomy array in the southern hemisphere by 2015. MeerKAT, in turn, is the African precursor instrument to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which is set to be the largest radio astronomy project in human history. A consortium of 9 African nations comprises one of two candidate sites to host this project which is set to revolutionise our understanding of the cosmos. Meanwhile, an emerging network of African telescopes is likely to make a significant contribution to the Global Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) network, which combines the observations of many telescopes to produce images of otherwise impossible resolution. This could involve at least 26 satellite ground segment dishes spread out over Africa and the data from this new network will be easily integrated with those from the European VLBI network.

Radio astronomy partnerships with Africa can make a valuable contribution to economic development and significantly contribute to attaining the Millennium Development Goals. By training a new generation of highly qualified scientists to work on African projects, they can boost the region's human capital and keep many of Africa’s brightest young minds in Africa. This is one reason for the African Union’s endorsement of the SKA project. Moreover, the development of radio astronomy facilities can transform Southern Africa into a global research centre for a range of scientific disciplines – from physics to engineering to ICT. This can create opportunities for local companies to cooperate with European industry and allow companies on both continents to develop new products and expand on new markets.
 

On November 7th, 2011, the European Parliament Delegation for relations with South Africa is holding an exchange of views on “Promoting European African scientific partnerships: the case of radio astronomy” with Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister for Science and Technology of South Africa. Other speakers include Dr Bernie Fanaroff, Director of South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project Office and Prof George Miley, Vice President of the International Astronomical Union.

Since Minister Pandor’s last visit to the European Parliament in May, a great number of MEPs have learned of Africa’s ambitions in the field of science. Promoting scientific cooperation between the EU and Africa is a key objective stated in the 8th EU-Africa Strategic Partnership. The science of radio astronomy is increasingly recognised as an area of particular potential for further cooperation.

Further information can be found at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/organes/d-za/d-za_20111107_1500.htm

Registration for this event is now closed

 

Date, Time and Location

7th November 2011, from 15.00 to 17.00
PHS - P4B001, European Parliament, Brussels

Chairman 

Mr Michael Cashman MEP, Chair of European Parliament Delegation for Relations with South Africa (D-ZA)

Speakers

Mrs Naledi Pandor, Minister for Science and Technology of South Africa
"Science cooperation between Africa and Europe. Seizing the opportunity"

Prof Luis Magalhaes, President of the Knowledge Society Agency (UIMC), Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science, Co-Chair of the Joint Expert Group of the Science, Information Society and Space Partnership of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy 

Dr Bernie Fanaroff, Director of South Africa's Square Kilometre Array Project Office
"Building on what is there: Existing portfolio of African radio astronomy initiatives"

Prof George Miley, Vice President of the International Astronomical Union
"Astronomy - its valuable role in building Africa's science and technology capacities"
 

The meeting is designed for officials and policy makers involved in science policy in Africa and Europe. It will also be of great interest to anyone wishing to learn more about concrete opportunities for research collaboration between both continents, as well as how these collaborations can boost science capacity and accelerate development. This can include members of research agencies, universities, the media, industry and non-government organisations.

Date: November 7th
Time: 15:00 – 17:00
Location: Room PHS - P4B001, European Parliament, Brussels
Note: An entry badge is required for access to the European Parliament. If you do not have an entry badge, please provide your complete date of birth and passport ID to us by emailing event@astroafricaeu.com