National Science Weeks engage thousands in South Africa and Australia

Pathfinders: Highlights from SKA precursor and pathfinder facilities around the world

BY ANTON BINNEMAN (SARAO) AND CSIRO/ICRAR ON BEHALF OF SKA TEAM AUSTRALIA

In August, South Africa and Australia held their National Science Weeks, a major opportunity to engage with and inspire communities across both SKA telescope host countries.

South Africa’s National Science Week, which ran from 1-6 August, is an annual celebration of the role and value of science and technology in people’s daily lives, led by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). This year the theme was “Celebrating the role of basic sciences in the modern world”, in line with the UN-declared International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development which was launched in July, of which the SKAO is a partner.

The National Research Foundation (NRF) and SARAO organised a roadshow in the Northern Cape province focusing on the SKAO footprint in the area. The SARAO Science Engagement team visited the towns of Williston, Vanwyksvlei, Brandvlei and Carnarvon, reaching more than 4,000 people through school visits. Alongside talks on astronomy and radio astronomy, and activities that highlighted careers and opportunities provided by the NRF-SARAO and the SKAO, learners were engaged with activities including a rocket launching competition and nighttime sky viewing through telescopes.

Australia’s National Science Week took place from 13 to 21 August, with strong involvement by researchers involved in the SKA project. It kicked off early with an event in the Murchison on Wajarri country, close to CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. Students from the Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School joined CSIRO and the Australian SKA Office team to launch water rockets towards the Moon, with the generous loan of some ICRAR equipment.

Celebrating the SKA project, two special observing events took place in remote Western Australian towns Cue and Mingenew, the latter with guest speaker Dr Jimi Green (SKA-Low Head of Science Operations), with two more events to follow with SKA- Low guests in October.

ICRAR hosted “From eyes to glass to aluminium: a history of astronomy”, a public talk attended by 160 curious minds. The team also visited local schools and an event at WA Museum Boola Bardip to showcase the SKA and astronomy.

Leaders from ASKAP research and operations jumped online for a recap of the great year had by CSIRO’s SKA precursor telescope. Sixty-five people joined in to hear about ASKAP astronomy, operations and management, as well as looking to the future with the SKA project.

Finally, ICRAR astronomer Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker teamed up with artist Becksi to create “galactic blooms”, a T-shirt design crossing the MWA GLEAM survey radio sky with wildflowers of the Murchison region. It was voted Australia’s favourite science T-shirt during National Science Week, and readers in Australia and New Zealand can order their own! Profits are donated to organisations supporting diversity and inclusion in STEM.