High-level visitors welcomed at SKAO offices

BY SKAO

Recent months have seen a number of VIP visits to SKAO offices, with government officials keen to learn more about the progress being made across the observatory.

South African Minister Blade Nzimande (right) met SKAO Director-General Prof. Philip Diamond on his visit.

In May, SKAO Global Headquarters welcomed South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Bonginkosi Emmanuel “Blade” Nzimande, as part of a delegation which included Antony Phillipson, British High Commissioner to South Africa. They held discussions with SKAO Director-General Prof. Philip Diamond and Head of the Director-General’s Office Simon Berry, and met staff during a tour of the building. With plans progressing for an SKA visitor centre in Carnarvon, South Africa, the delegation also took the opportunity to tour the First Light Pavilion, a new public engagement centre at the neighbouring Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The previous month, the HQ welcomed Italy’s Ambassador to the UK, Indigo Lambertini, with a delegation including the Italian Consul in Manchester, Matteo Corradini, and Prof. Roberto Buizza, scientific attaché at the Italian Embassy in London. The ambassador was pleased to hear about the number of Italian contributions to the project in the fields of science and engineering, and complimented the high quality of the work carried out by Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and other Italian industrial partners. The delegation joined Italian members of staff for lunch in the SKAO Hub restaurant , an opportunity to chat informally and further discuss the project, the Observatory’s values, and its wider goals.

Italian Ambassador to the UK Inigo Lambertini (centre with the Italian flag) with HQ staff members during his visit to SKAO HQ.

Credit: SKAO (all photos)

Senior figures in India’s Department of Science and Technology visited the HQ in January. Secretary Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar and colleagues were in the country in support of UK-Indian bilateral relations in science, which includes collaborating through the SKAO. The delegation also took time to speak to some of the Indian computing specialists working at the HQ.

Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar (right), secretary of India’s Department of Science and Technology, visited the HQ in January.

The SKAO’s offices in South Africa and Australia have been busy with visitors too. Among them, the German Consul General to South Africa, Tanja Werheit, visited the SKA-Mid Science Operations Centre in May, following a previous visit to the radio telescope site in the Karoo. She toured the Integration Test Facility and was able to gain more insight into the groundbreaking technology, science, and research that the project will enable. The interaction was a positive step in building the important relationship with Germany, which recently announced its intention to become a full member of the SKAO.

German Consul General Tanja Werheit (second from right) during her visit, with (L-R) SKA-Mid Telescope Director Sudeshen Chetty, German Consulate intern Charlotte Begas, SARAO Managing Director Pontsho Maruping and SKA-Mid Telescope Director Lindsay Magnus.

Across the ocean in Australia, the SKA-Low Engineering Operations Centre in Geraldton, Western Australia, welcomed Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley in March. [Read more in our interview on page 34].

Dr Cathy Foley (fourth from left), Australia’s Chief Scientist, on a visit to the SKA-Low Engineering Operations Centre in Geraldton, Australia.