Community outreach

South Africa is shortlisted to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the most powerful radio telescope ever. South Africa is building an SKA technology pathfinder telescope, the Karoo Array Telescope (known as MeerKAT).

Upcoming calendar of outreach events

30 July 2009
National Science Week launch

2 - 8 August 2009
SKA South Africa Expo at National Science Week, Kimberley, Northern Cape

9 August 2009
HartRAO Outreach in Carnarvon

17 - 24 August 2009
SKA South Africa Expo at SASOL Techno X, Sasolburg, Gauteng

October 2009
International Year of Astronomy events in Carnarvon, Van Wyksvlei and Williston

24 - 20 March 2010
SKA South Africa Expo at SciFest Africa, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape

Recent events

8 July 2009
US Embassy talk in Mamelodi

29 June - 1 July 2009
Carnarvon maths and science winter school

End June 2009
National Science Week in Namibia

30 June 2009
Star viewing evening at Carnarvon High School, Northern Cape

12 - 13 June 2009
SKA South Africa expo at Carnarvon Community Event, Northern Cape

30 May 2009
Exhibition at ScopeX 2009, Johannesburg, Gauteng

26 May 2009
Public talk on South Africa's bid to host the SKA at Gala Dinner of the National Science and Technology Forum of South Africa, presented by SKA project scientist, Dr Adrian Tiplady

23 April 2009
The Square Kilometre Array - The last great astronomical adventure, presented by Dr Adrian Tiplady, SKA Project Scientist, at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Johannesburg

25 - 31 March 2009
SKA South Africa Expo at SciFest Africa, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape

18 March 2009
Community event and star viewing evening in Carnarvon with Debra Shepherd, radio astronomer from the Very Large Array in New Mexico

February 2009
Public talks on the SKA project by Professor Malcolm Longair of Cambridge University at MTN ScienCentre and University of Cape Town