2 minute read
2 minutes with... Swiss SKAO Council members
from Contact 10
The SKAO Council’s March meeting marked the first time that a Swiss delegation attended as full members. Kevin Reymond (above right) is the representative of the State Secretariat for Research and Innovation while Dr Jean-Paul Kneib represents the Swiss scientific community.
What does full SKAO membership mean for Switzerland?
Kevin: As host of CERN, Switzerland is pleased to be a full member of this project which will bring about revolutionary advances in the field of astronomy as well as foster international scientific cooperation. It will also provide Switzerland with the opportunity to strengthen its ties with the other member states on a national level as well as allow Switzerland to position itself in the field of multi-messenger astronomy.
Jean-Paul: Science education is really important in Switzerland and so there is always strong interest in science projects. Science gets a lot of airtime on radio and TV – much more than in some other countries, I would say. So while being an SKAO member is important for scientists, it is also for the Swiss public.
What does your role on the SKAO Council involve?
Kevin: My role entails taking a position on the different items that the Council is discussing. I always try to defend the interests of the project as well as Switzerland’s interests.
Jean-Paul: I’m leading the Swiss scientific community involved in the project; both the astrophysicist and data scientist sides, and am also close to the people involved in construction. We are newcomers to this project compared to other countries that have been involved for decades, and so we have to work out where we can fit. Part of my role is identifying the excellence and expertise we have in Switzerland that can benefit the project, and suggest where the Swiss can contribute to the SKAO.
What has been the highlight of your SKAO duties so far?
Kevin: The fact that we are attending a council meeting for the first time as a full member. It changes many of the dynamics.
Jean-Paul: A wonderful moment we celebrated was the signing just a couple of days ago of an agreement with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) which marked a great step on the way to France’s accession to the SKAO. I hope it will encourage more countries to join the Observatory.
