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Media Release
Australia in the running for ambitious astronomy project21 September 2007 A high level inter-governmental committee to oversee Australia’s Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project was today announced by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP. “The Australian SKA Coordination Committee will manage the Australian SKA project, our contribution to an international project to develop a $2 billion next-generation radio telescope capable of exploring the origins of the universe,” Minister Bishop said. “Scientists and research organisations from 17 countries are collaborating on this mega-science project, with Australia one of two short listed potential sites. “The Australian Government is working with the West Australian Government to position Australia for selection as host country for the SKA by providing a superb site and supporting leading astronomy and technology through the new Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope. “To win the right to host the Square Kilometre Array is akin to winning the Sydney Olympics every year for decades to come, and will place Australia at the forefront of radio astronomy and related technology worldwide.” “The proposed site, in the mid-west of Western Australia, is in one of the most radio-quiet areas in the world.” In an important step, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has authorised a Radio Communications Assignment and Licensing Instruction at the proposed site to help protect the radio-quietness of the site. The Minister also launched a new Australian SKA Project website today, and announced funding of $350,000 for Questacon and Scitech to develop educational resources to provide information on the SKA and the benefits to Australia. The 2007-08 Federal Budget provided $56.7 million, primarily for the CSIRO, to design and build the ASKAP radio telescope, taking the Australian Government’s funding commitment to SKA to $117 million. For further information, including details on the mid-west site, the ASKAP radio telescope and the project partners, visit www.ska.gov.au,
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