6 minute read
THE MEERKAT PROJECT
an oasis of hope in the Karoo
The construction of the MeerKAT radio telescope and Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) has enabled South Africa to develop capabilities in design and building of world class telescopes, costeffective supercomputing systems, multidisciplinary systems engineering protocols for large infrastructure and technology projects, and development of a geographical advantage area into a research investment hub supported by advanced legislation and technical skills to preserve it.
Advertisement
The MeerKAT radio telescope, is an iconic scientific instrument designed entirely by South African scientists and engineers, with more than 75% of the total spend being local. As a responsible corporate citizen, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) works in partnership with the local Karoo community in order to ensure the long term successful operation of radio astronomy facilities in the area.
To this end, SARAO has created significant artisanal capacity to operate and maintain the MeerKAT and SKA facilities. Students from Karoo towns have been trained or are training as electricians, fitters and turners, instrumentation, diesel mechanics, IT, boiler making, carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying and welding. Of the 18 qualified artisans supported, 11 have been employed by SARAO. In addition, SARAO has established and is managing a technical training centre in Carnarvon, to train electrical-artisan students. Since 2007, SARAO has been coordinating various interventions in the primary and high schools close to the SKA site in the Karoo. The intention of the schools programme is to improve literacy, mathematics and science teaching and learning in these schools, and ensure greater educational benefits accrue to the local communities as a result of the SKA project. Interventions have included the secondment of qualified and experienced mathematics and science educators to the schools, support to the science and mathematics educators and learners, and a bursary programme for Grade 8 to 12 learners to study at Carnarvon High School - the only high school in the region offering Mathematics and Physical Science to Grade 12 level.
Such initiatives have had long lasting impact. For example, working in partnership with organised agriculture and local authorities, SARAO also supported the establishment of a feedlot to support local emerging farmers during the current drought conditions in the Karoo.
SARAO has to date spent over R460m on Northern Cape local suppliers and contractors. In addition, R1.7m was spent on material sourced from suppliers in Carnarvon and surrounding communities. A further R1m was spent on the training of 351 people in Carnarvon and the surrounding areas. Moreover, 110 locals from the areas surrounding the MeerKAT project are employed at the site, and 72 students from these communities have received scholarships from SARAO since 2011. These exclude the sponsored computer labs at both Carnarvon Primary and High Schools, as well as a Community Knowledge Centre. The local primary school also provides internet services to the community.
A summary of SARAO’s socio-economic impact in the Karoo, Northern Cape • More than R110-million was awarded to 16 SMEs nationally through a financial assistance programme. This has empowered local high-tech industry and institutions to acquire skills and expertise in advanced technologies in order to be able to compete for more
contracts during the SKA design and construction phases. • R1-million spent on training of 351 people in Carnarvon and surrounding communities in the Northern Cape by major contractors. • R1.7-million spent on material sourced from local Carnarvon and surrounding communities suppliers for the construction of the HERA telescope. • Major infrastructure work involved the resurfacing of 80km of road to the site, the construction of 110 km of power lines, fibre rollout, buildings on site as well as the MeerKAT data centre. • 72 – number of SKA further education and training funded
students from local SKA surrounding communities since 2011. • 14 - number of SKA Bursary funded students from local
SKA surrounding communities studying at various universities. • 8 – number of local schools in SKA surrounding communities where Human
Capital Development (HCD) programmes are conducted such as robotics school competitions.
Human Capital Development (HCD) A significant return on South Africa’s investment in the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) effort, and the construction and operation of the MeerKAT Radio Telescope, are the outputs of SARAO’s human capital development (HCD) initiatives. The exciting nature of the science and engineering of the project, as well as the availability of competitive scholarships, has attracted students to study relevant Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees, and has created upskilling and employment opportunities for many South Africans.
The establishment of the SARAO HCD Programme followed an instruction from the then Minister of Science and Innovation in 2005 to develop a community of scientists, engineers and artisans to ensure that SARAO fulfil its primary mandate to build, operate and exploit one of the world’s largest scientific infrastructures - the SKA, as well as other world-class radio telescopes.
The programme was necessarily devised in a structured and proactive way that is fit-for-purpose, for enabling SARAO to deliver on this unique and challenging mandate.
To date, SARAO HCD has provided 1,279 grants to post-doctoral fellows, postgraduate and undergraduate students doing science and engineering degrees and research at universities, and universities of technology, and to students training to be artisans. In addition, the project is supporting five Research Chairs at South African universities. The research chairs have further increased the number of researchers and supervisors able to supervise postgraduate students and manage SKA and MeerKAT related research.
Of the 1,279 grants awarded, 81% have been to South African citizens, of which 69% have been to Black South Africans (African, Coloured and Indian), and 30% to South African women.
In order to attract the best and brightest young people, and to drive transformation, the levels of financial support ensures that all students have access to studying. SARAO’s grants are competitive and cover all the costs associated with studying – namely tuition fees, accommodation costs, meals, sundries and stationery.
SARAO HCD has always consciously and actively prioritised support to Black (ACI) and Women South Africans.
Through its various HCD interventions, SARAO has been instrumental in developing a large and interactive research community in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa that participates in relevant radio astronomy science and engineering research, at a local and international level.
Of the 1,279 grants awarded, 133 have been awarded to students from other African countries, as part of SARAO’s role in developing radio astronomy science and related engineering capacity on the African continent.
When South Africa submitted its expression of interest to host the SKA in 2003, there were fewer than five radio astronomers in South Africa. Today, largely due to SARAO’s HCD programme, there are more than 200 practicing radio astronomers based in South African universities and national facilities.
