Minister challenges students at sixth annual SKA SA Postgraduate Bursary Conference
24 November 2011 - With a challenge to produce exceptional research publications, and the hope that a Nobel Prize winner will come from the group of students being supported by the South African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project, Mrs Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology, opened the 6th SKA SA Postgraduate Bursary Conference, on Monday evening in Stellenbosch.

International partners join forces and agree funding for detailed design of Square Kilometre Array telescope
23 November 2011 - Seven national governmental and research organisations announced the formation of the SKA Organisation, an independent, not-for-profit company established to formalise relationships with international partners and centralise the leadership of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope project.

'Cold' radio receivers important milestone for KAT-7 telescope
24 August 2011 - The KAT-7 telescope, a prototype for the MeerKAT radio telescope array being built by the SKA South Africa team on the Karoo Astronomy Reserve, has achieved a major milestone. All seven of the dishes have now been successfully fitted with "cold" radio receivers, signaling the successful completion of the telescope antennas.

MeerKAT radio telescope reaches major milestone
16 August 2011 - The MeerKAT radio telescope being built by the South African team preparing South Africa's bid for hosting the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) has passed its first test with flying colours.

SA promotes the Africa SKA bid at World Conference of Science Journalists
24 July 2011 - South Africa is already displaying its ability to deliver large-scale scientific projects in a number of areas, not least of which is through the imminent commissioning of the KAT-7 telescope, part of the MeerKAT project – South Africa's precursor to the SKA.

Square Kilometre Array telescope project unveils site selection process
6 July 2011 - The Founding Board of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope project today reported at the SKA Forum 2011 that significant progress was made when the process and timeline for selection of the host site for the telescope were unveiled.

High Performance Telescopes Require High Performance Computing
29 June 2011 - Following the announcement by Intel South Africa Corporation and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa Project of their agreement to partner in evaluating the highest Intel® technologies in processing the enormous data rates produced by radio telescopes, the CSIR's Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) is in the process of upgrading its capacity in computational power to cement South Africa's position in the TOP500 HPC list and ensure its capability to support its initiative for the SKA bid.

Members of Congress Recognise Africa as the Next Frontier for Science and Technology Innovation
6 June 2011 - Today, H.E. Ebrahim Rasool, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the U.S., in collaboration with Congressman Bobby Rush, a Democrat from Illinois hosted an exhibition and reception highlighting some of the innovative scientific and technological projects taking place on the African continent that could benefit the lives of Africans and global perceptions of the continent.

Square Kilometre Array telescope project announces the establishment of a Founding Board and selects Jodrell Bank Observatory to host Project Office
2 April 2011 - Nine national governmental and research organisations have today established a Founding Board for the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. Australia, China, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK signed a Letter of Intent in Rome, declaring their common ambition to see the SKA built, and agreed to work together to secure funding for the next phase of the SKA project. The new Board has announced that the SKA Project Office (SPO) will be based at the Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester in the United Kingdom. This new management structure will guide the project into the next phase of development.

Statement on the Proposed South Western Karoo Basin Gas Exploration Project by Shell Exploration Company B.V.
17 March 2011 - Shell Exploration Company B.V. has applied to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa seeking the award of exploration rights to undertake gas exploration activities in the South Western Karoo Basin, South Africa. The purpose of exploration activities will be to assess whether there are viable shale gas resources within the proposed exploration area.

Minister Pandor to Launch New Labs at Carnarvon High, Northern Cape
24 February 2011 - While African scientists and engineers are building a world class radio telescope in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa, the project is also reaching out to schools in the area to boost science and mathematics teaching and learning. On Friday 25 February 2011 South Africa's Minister for Science and Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor, will officially launch two new laboratories at Carnarvon High School - a computer and a science laboratory. She will be accompanied by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Hazel Jenkins.

The Barefoot Astronomer
18 February 2011 - Try exploring the nature and evolution of the universe, looking 13.7 billion years back in time, unravelling black holes and watching stars being born. Try tracking galaxies, identifying the nature of dark energy, navigating three-dimensional galactic maps and studying cosmic magnets, while decoding extra-terrestrial signals and finding planets capable of supporting life, and then challenge the theory of relativity – all barefoot.

Africa to shed light on the dark ages
18 February 2011 - Africa's bid to build and host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope - which will for the first time provide mankind with detailed pictures of the "dark ages" 13.7 billion years back in time - is gaining momentum with significant scientific breakthroughs.

Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Africa Office hosting a AAAS EurekAlert! Press Reception in Washington
14 February 2011 - On February 18 2011, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Africa Office will be hosting a EurekAlert! Press Reception during the annual AAAS Meeting in Washington. Dr. Bernie Fanaroff, the Project Director of SKA Africa with key officials from the South African Department of Science and Technology will attend the event to raise awareness of the African site bid and discuss key elements of Africa's competitive advantages.