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Debacle may threaten SKA bid

Jacob Nthoiwa
By Jacob Nthoiwa, ITWeb journalist.
Johannesburg, 09 Jul 2010

There have been concerns that the way the National Research Foundation acted against director of the SA Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Phil Charles, might impact SA's Square Kilometre Array (SKA) bid.

Charles was suspended from the NRF in January this year, and subjected to a disciplinary hearing. The charges were never made public and on 12 March he was cleared of any wrongdoing and re-instated in his post.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister of science and technology, Marian Shinn, says she believes that “the nature of the charges against Charles and the way he was treated by the NRF rang alarm bells in the scientific community both here and abroad”.

She says she has spoken to scientists in the US and UK - one of whom is extremely close to those who will make the final SKA decision. “They are alarmed that scientists working on international projects will be treated like functionaries by bureaucrats, and that bureaucratic rather than scientific decisions will win,” she points out.

“The success of our SKA bid hangs not on the country's ability to build the telescope and practise astronomy, but on the management of teams of international scientists across a many-nation footprint,” says Shinn. “This is exceptionally difficult and will demand exceptional scientific, management and diplomatic skills,” she adds.

According to her, the NRF's autocratic handling of the Charles affair has led to concerns that international scientists may opt to work in a more supportive environment elsewhere.

“Elsewhere in the scientific world it is the scientists who make the decisions about their operations and the bureaucrats who implement them,” she says. It seems in SA some bureaucrats have seen an opportunity to build their own empires on the coattails of SKA.”

The local arm of the interdisciplinary science organisation, Royal Society SA, says it's also concerned the action taken against Charles by the NRF has disturbed the international scientific community, and placed a grave question mark against SA's global scientific reputation. ”Corporate governance would appear to be lacking and clear policy direction ignored,” it says.

The organisation notes it's worrying that national scientific facilities may become subject to a form of totalitarian control. “Since 1994 we have enjoyed policies based on democratic consultation, open processes and freedom of information,” it adds.

The Royal Society says it would strongly support an open and public enquiry into this “damaging incident” and the implementation of mechanisms to prevent anything similar occurring in the future.

“Unless such a process takes place, we fear the international scientific community will lose confidence in entering into collaborative agreements with the South African scientific establishment,” it says.

Mismanagement probe

In June, there was another brawl when chairperson of the science and technology portfolio committee, Nqaba Ngcobo, said there will be an inquiry into alleged mismanagement of funds and conflict of interest at the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland, and labelled Shinn as the initiator of the investigation.

Ngcobo says the probe comes after a recent report by the NRF, which oversees the management of national research facilities, including the SAAO.

According to Ngcobo, a detailed report sent to the committee by the NRF raised questions about how money issues have been handled and the way proceedings have been dealt with. He declined to elaborate, saying he is waiting for Parliament to open, and the other members of the committee to have sight of the report, before any further details can be revealed.

However, Shinn has distanced the DA from the allegation that it prompted an inquiry into alleged mismanagement of funds and conflict of interest at SALT.

According to Thabiso Nkone, corporate communication manager at the NRF, the foundation is aware of a possible investigation by Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology.

“The NRF will cooperate fully with the portfolio committee's investigation and is ready to follow the necessary parliamentary procedures, “ he says.

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