SKA Members Meet in Further Discussion as to Where It Should be Placed. (April 4, 2012)

Early last month the independent Siting Group evaluating the bids from Australia/New Zealand and a 10-nation African bid led by the Republic of South Africa was reported to have recommended to the Square Kilometre Array board that although it was an extremely close call, the African bid should be preferred.

That recommendation together with commentary by the SKA board noting its response was delivered to the full SKA membership in March. The membership was reported to have met earlier today and is expected to issue a public statement in the near future.

CSIRO astronomer Brian Boyle, head of the Australia/New Zealand group says: "This is the start of the process in which the members, the investors, are involved in the whole business."

Dr Boyle, a member of the SKA board, has reviewed the recommendation of the Siting Group, but under confidentiality agreements is not permitted to comment. However, he told The Australian: "Australia and New Zealand are still very much in discussions and negotiations with the board and the members," and noted that the Siting Group's recommendation is only "one input" to the member's final decision.

Members of the SKA Organisation:

• Australia: Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
• Canada: National Research Council
• China: National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Italy: National Institute for Astrophysics
• New Zealand: Ministry of Economic Development
• Republic of South Africa: National Research Foundation
• The Netherlands: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
• United Kingdom: Science and Technology Facilities Council