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 article elsewhere in this edition of Contact. Do you see progress on maintaining dark and quiet skies for astronomy?

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.