South Africa versus Australia; No It's Not the World Cup. (March 3, 2007)

Artist's impression of the core site of the Square Kilometre Array if it is based in Australia.  Credit: CSIRO

    The journal Science reports that Australia will be facing stiff competition to snare the world's most powerful radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

In September last year Australia together with South Africa was short listed to be the site of the SKA.

The Republic of South Africa's recent budget earmarks about 40% of the proposed A$220 million budget increase for science and technology for an upgraded pilot instrument, the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT).

According to Science, "The nation's SKA project manager, Bernie Fanaroff, says an expanded version of the demonstrator array, called the MeerKAT, will 'optimize the science we can do' with available funds. Although some scientists question devoting so much of the budget to KAT, zoologist Robin Crewe, who is president of South Africa's leading science academy, predicts that a successful bid's information network would benefit other areas of South African research."

Perhaps that'll catch the vicarious competitive sporting interests of the Australian Prime Minister, his Minister for Science, Julie Bishop, and even the Minister for Sport, Senator George Brandis.

Having just been replaced by South Africa as the top one-day cricketing nation, losing the SKA would be appalling.

Come on guys you just can't allow that to happen.