Two minutes with... Prof. Fred Watson Prof. Fred Watson is the Australian government’s Astronomer-at-Large, and is well known for his award-winning radio and TV broadcasts, books, music, and Space Nuts podcast. He made his first visit to SKAO HQ in the UK in September. Welcome to our HQ, Fred! Being based in an SKAO telescope host country, what do you see as the particular benefits for Australia and South Africa, as construction progresses? Certainly science outreach is something that draws strength from the presence of a major facility on home soil. It’s easier to excite the public’s enthusiasm for an establishment they can call their own than one on the other side of the world – perhaps even more so when it has multinational status. In general, the benefits for host countries extend further, ranging from opportunities in construction and operation to greater international kudos. In the case of the SKAO, there’s the added dimension of relations with First Nations custodians in the host countries, broadening the story in a very valuable direction. As a science communicator, what do you think the astronomy community can do to further interest in STEM subjects? It is tomorrow’s scientists who will be the main beneficiaries of the SKAO. My advice would be to view STEM outreach as an essential attribute when budgets are being allocated – and be generous! Of course you’re also an astronomer, so what scientific discoveries do you most look forward to the SKAO delivering? The ones that will win Nobel Prizes! There are many possibilities in the SKAO’s playbook, but mapping hydrogen in the Universe’s dark ages is one, and probing the limits of general relativity is another – especially if it reveals hints of new physics. You’re attending the IAU Symposium on Astronomy and Satellite Constellations (see page 44). Do you see progress on maintaining dark and quiet skies for astronomy?
Growing interest in SKA project in Poland BY MATHIEU ISIDRO (SKAO)
Over the past few months, several engagement opportunities have seen new ties develop between the SKAO and Poland, supported by an enthusiastic Polish grass-roots effort to explore potential future participation in the Observatory. This year’s European Astronomical Society meeting, held in Krakow in July, provided an ideal opportunity to brief the assembled Polish astronomical community on the status of the SKA Observatory, its scientific community, and science operations. With support from the Polish Astronomical Society, the Observatory organised a town hall open to all members of the Polish astronomical community. Interventions by SKAO Head of International Relations Thijs Geurts, Project Scientist Dr Tyler Bourke, Head of Science Operations Dr Shari Breen, and Electronic Engineer Bartosz Idzkowski generated plenty of interest from the full room. Deputy Head of the National Centre for Nuclear Research Dr Agnieszka Pollo moderated the session, and has since visited the SKAO Global Headquarters for further discussions. In September, the Observatory was invited to host a followup session at the Polish national astronomy meeting in Toruń. Dr Agnieszka Slowikowska, the new director of Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE), organised and moderated the session to discuss the prospects of Poland developing closer links with the SKAO. The promising discussions are the start of an effort in Poland to explore closer links with the SKAO. This effort would see the creation of a national consortium, with a view towards future membership of the Observatory. Poland’s scientific interests in radio astronomy are many, with existing expertise and participation in low-frequency radio astronomy through hosting LOFAR stations, and its participation in European VLBI observations through JIVE. Poland also participates in SALT, the South African Large Telescope, where it holds a significant share. BELOW: SKAO town hall for the Polish astronomical community at the Polish national astronomy meeting in Toruń earlier this year.
I’m encouraged by the goodwill that has emerged on all sides over the past year, and I believe there is cause for optimism. Ground-based observational astronomy will never be the same as it was before the constellation era, but with mitigation strategies currently being developed, it will continue to thrive.
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