Media Centre
Media Release
Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop
MP, today announced $56.6 million in Australian Government funding as part
of the 2007-08 Budget to develop the Australian Square Kilometre Array
Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope – a move which will strengthen
Australia’s position to be selected as host country of the proposed Square
Kilometre Array (SKA).
The ASKAP will be a test-bed for SKA technology and will be one of the
world’s best radio telescopes able to survey the
universe at a rate much faster than existing radio telescopes. CSIRO’s early
work on SKA technology and the quality of the WA site has already attracted
collaboration and additional investment from leading research bodies in the
USA and Canada.
"This investment in the ASKAP will provide considerable benefit to
Australian science and industry. It will also promote Australia’s standing
as the leading site to host the $1.8 billion international SKA project,"
Minister Bishop said.
As part of the project, CSIRO will extend its annual in-service
training for around 200 high school teachers through the provision of Year
11/12 maths and physics education material involving data and information
from the ASKAP. This will expose the next generation to world-class science
and technology in a unique way.
The Australian Government is working with the Western Australian
Government to develop the Western Australian Radio Astronomy Park, where the
ASKAP will be located.
The SKA is a massive $1.8 billion project, under consideration by the
international community, to create a telescope capable of probing the
origins of the universe and addressing other key questions in physics and
cosmology. Australia, with a central site in the mid-West region of Western
Australia, has been identified as one of two suitable places worldwide to
host the project.
"The SKA project is an unprecedented opportunity for Australia to
potentially host one of the most important international science projects of
the 21st Century, with major benefits for industry, regional Australia and
our scientific and technological standing in the world," Minister Bishop
said.
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Media Contacts |
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| Minister Bishop’s Office: |
Tory Vidler |
0414 228 727 |
| Dept of Education, Science & Training: |
Virginia Cook |
0412 971 323 |
| CSIRO: |
Professor Brian Boyle |
0418 882 166 |
Supporting Information
Why is this important?
The proposed Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is an unprecedented
opportunity for Australia to host one of the most important
international science projects of the 21st Century. The SKA
would be the world’s premier radio telescope for a number of decades and
promises to transform our understanding of physics and cosmology.
A significant investment is needed now to ensure that Australia
remains competitive in positioning itself to host the SKA against strong
competition from South Africa. The new funding will strengthen
Australia’s position to be selected as host.
The ASKAP will itself be one of the world’s best radio telescopes.
Even if the SKA were not to proceed in Australia, the ASKAP would
provide the much needed next-generation replacement for Australia’s
current ageing radio astronomy infrastructure.
Who will benefit?
Australia, through CSIRO, will be able to enhance its position as
one of the world’s foremost innovators in radio astronomy and associated
information and communications technologies.
A significant part of the funding earmarked for the ASKAP will be
spent in regional Australia.
The ASKAP is likely to become an iconic science infrastructure that
will stimulate interest in science and engineering. CSIRO will also use
the project to provide education material for an in-service training
programme for high school teachers.
Should Australia be selected to host the SKA the above benefits are
likely to be substantially increased. The SKA will be a massive project,
comparable to some of the great nation-building projects of the past.
The estimated $1.8 billion cost for development and construction and
around $100 million annually for operations, will be shared across the
international community.
What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?
The Australian Government is committing an additional $56.6 million
over the four years until 2011 for the ASKAP radio telescope and to put
Australia in the strongest position to be selected to host the proposed
SKA.
$51.7 million is for the CSIRO to develop and build the ASKAP. This
is on top of $49.2 million already committed from existing CSIRO funds
and the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS),
taking the total Australian Government commitment to the ASKAP to $100.9
million.
A $5 million component is for the Australian Government to manage a
four-year "Olympic-bid" like process. This involves significant work
domestically and internationally to position Australia as the most
outstanding candidate site ahead of the final site choice negotiations
around 2010-11.
What have we done in the past?
The Australian Government contributed $10 million through the Major
National Research Facilities (MNRF) program for early SKA technology
development.
Other funds from SKA-related activities have been provided through
DEST’s International Science Linkages program ($0.6 million) and the
Australian Research Council ($0.5 million).
When will the initiative conclude?
The $56.6 million in funding will be provided over the four years
until 2010-11.
Recurrent funding for telescope operations is expected to be sourced
from CSIRO funding and international sources.
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