Agreement brings Swedish astronomical community into SKAO fold

Onsala Space Observatory’s twin radio telescopes and 25-metre telescope on the right. CREDIT: OSO/Anna-Lena Lundqvist

Hot on the heels of the Swiss, the Swedish astronomical community has also signed an agreement with the SKA Observatory.

Chalmers University of Technology will represent Sweden in the SKA project during the next two years. This will allow Swedish companies to bid for construction contracts while national processes continue to eventually incorporate Sweden as an SKAO member country. Astronomers in Sweden will furthermore gain access to the scientific data generated by the project to advance humankind’s understanding of all things to do with space.

“Scientists in Sweden and all over the world want to use the SKA telescopes to ask some of our biggest questions about the Universe,” said Prof. John Conway, professor of radio astronomy at Chalmers and infrastructure director of Onsala Space Observatory. “[This will give them] the chance to make exciting discoveries in astronomy and physics.” The agreement was signed at the end of September during an online ceremony that connected Gothenburg and Jodrell Bank. The president of Chalmers, Stefan Bengtsson, and Prof. Philip Diamond, the SKAO’s Director-General, sealed the deal on behalf of their respective organisations.

“Sweden has been involved in the SKA project since the start,” said Prof. Diamond. “It’s wonderful to welcome Chalmers and Onsala Space Observatory in this new official role, just as building work is starting in South Africa and in Australia.”

Onsala Space Observatory represented Swedish interests in the SKA design process between 2012 and 2021 as a member of the SKA Organisation, the precursor of the SKAO. During this time Chalmers and Swedish companies made important contributions to the design and prototyping of the SKA telescopes, in particular in the development of receivers, low-noise amplifiers, and digital samplers.

By Anim van Wyk (SKAO)