The suspension of a key scientist involved in SA's bid to host the 1.5 billion-euro Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project has raised more concerns that the country risks losing the prestigious race.
The National Research Foundation's (NRF's) decision to suspended Phil Charles, director of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), earlier this month, has been met with criticism from political parties, as well as local scientists.
SA is in a race with Australia to host the SKA radio telescope. However, funding shortages, battles with Telkom and possible delays of several crucial projects have already marred the bid. So far, 15 countries are involved as potential funders of the SKA, and capital investments are expected to total two billion euros.
The Democratic Alliance's deputy shadow minister of science and technology, Marian Shinn, said in a previous statement that the NRF decision was questionable. She noted that Charles “spearheaded the rollout of the Southern African Large Telescope and is a key player in the SKA bid”, saying his actions would not jeopardise the SKA bid.
A letter from the NRF, which was circulated to SAAO staff, reveals that Charles faces a disciplinary hearing and possible dismissal. The NRF says Charles had discussed proposed sites for the mega radio telescope, contravening policy, and was suspended as he had “caused undue distress”.
Five sites for the headquarters are up for discussion. The NRF notes that the discussion paper was completed in August 2009 and was circulated at the end of January. The paper was presented at an NRF workshop last week, but the NRF has not yet reported on the outcome of the discussions.
No disorder
One local scientist, who declined to be named, says any internal issues should be resolved quickly as they could impact SA's bid. He adds that, while the bid is largely a political decision, any perceptions of disorder in the entities involved in the bid could be detrimental.
The SKA is a mega telescope, about 100 times more sensitive than the biggest existing radio telescope. It will consist of approximately 3 000 dish-shaped antennae and other hybrid receiving technologies, with a core of about 2 000 antennae and outlying stations of 30 to 40 antennae each, spiralling out of the core. These stations will be spread over a vast area of up to 3 000km.
Botswana, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia are to host remote SKA stations, the central location for which will be Carnarvon, in the Northern Cape.
The DST says research areas will include observational radio astronomy, radio astronomy instrumentation, digital signal processing, distributed data processing and RF broadband feeds, receivers and cryogenic packages.
SA has spent R258 million since 2003 on securing the project. The DST says R23 million was spent on universities, while R155 million had been spent building roads to the site. Another R11.5 million was spent on building accommodation.
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