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.

Today in Washington DC, in advance of the annual convention of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Dr Bernie Fanaroff, Director, South Africa SKA Project, will introduce 'The Barefoot Astronomer' at a breakfast meeting while addressing the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) on the continent's bid for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

Simon Ratcliffe, an astronomer and a member of the South African SKA bid team, has been part of the MeerKAT project (a precursor to SKA) for several years. His work includes cutting-edge astronomy, including the recent and successful very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations.

"His astronomical colleagues are doubtful if Ratcliffe owns a pair of shoes or even a set of 'plakkies' (flip flops or sandals) – let's just say that no-one has even seen him wearing such items. He has a rather peculiar habit of working barefoot," says Fanaroff.

In the next few years, in the build-up to the SKA project, Ratcliffe – The Barefoot Astronomer – will not only conduct his science but, more importantly, will also travel extensively promoting the benefits of the SKA project for mankind and South Africa, in particular. He will focus not only on the global scientific community and astronomers generally, but interested members of the general public too. He does this in a light-hearted fashion, making use of simple, everyday terminology and, of course, barefoot.

"Young people interested in astronomy, and who might work on this project in future, are destined to become experts in future technologies that will be in high demand around the globe," predicts Ratcliffe.

Part of winning the SKA project will be to leave a legacy of excellence in physics and engineering. "There is still so much more to learn and discover than what we already know, so young people should consider careers in this fascinating field. South Africa already has world-class technology with the KAT-7, which is a test bed for the bigger MeerKAT (64 dishes). So, one day when we find extra-terrestrial life, we can literally say, 'Look what the KAT dragged in'," jokes Ratcliffe.