The African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP) marks a significant step towards developing closer EU/Africa relations.
The platform, and details of how the project will be implemented, was discussed during a workshop in Brussels last week. MEPs in attendance view the programme as one that will allow citizens in Europe and Africa to enjoy the benefits of science.
"This is a very exciting project with enormous potential and it is important that Europe and the EU are at the heart of all this," said event host, Irish MEP Emer Costello. He was speaking during a breakfast briefing, held prior to a two-day Brussels workshop, organised by AERAP, during which the new Framework Programme for Cooperation was formally introduced.
The objective of the framework is to outline future African-European radio astronomy co-operation plans, including ICT, renewable energy and human capital development projects. The aim of the workshop was to start preparing for implementation of the key actions proposed in the framework programme and to explore the requirements of appropriate funding instruments.
The SKA
According to Costello, the event was an opportunity to update interested parties on the AERAP and SKA. "We are committed to reciprocating this goodwill," said Daan du Toit, minister counsellor of science and technology for the South African mission to the EU. "This project is all about scientific collaboration and excellence in science. It also provides an opportunity to leverage other social and economic benefits."
Du Toit's comments were echoed by Anita Loots, of SKA SA. "South Africans do not just want to be the recipients of telescopes on their soil - we want to be fully engaged in this," she said.
According to the attendees, the SKA project is a powerful driver of socio-economic development in Africa, in addition to producing groundbreaking science and driving innovation. The initiative is the result of a European Parliament written declaration and calls by African Union leaders to promote radio astronomy as a priority for EU/Africa co-operation.
Details of "BIOSTIRLING 5 SKA", which aims to build and test a real-scale small solar plant demonstrator to feed prototypes, were also outlined at the workshop. The BIOSTIRLING project is supported by Gestamp and the Institute for Astrophysics of Andalusia. "The objective is to supply green energy to all the SKA projects," said Juan Jose Zubeldia, from the project.
"I think we are on the brink of a breakthrough in answering some of the unanswered questions about life and the universe," concluded Costello. "This project, I believe, will do this and take science fiction a step closer to reality."
The first implementation workshop was held in Brussels and a second similar event is planned to take place in Cape Town, on 17 July.
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