‘SKA will boost NC economy’

AN INFLUX of stargazers will result in plenty of economic opportunities for residents of the Northern Cape as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope promises to transform the Karoo into a Mecca for astronomy.

This is according to Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor, who was speaking at a community imbizo at the Carnarvon Town Hall recently.

The minister visited the Northern Cape to open a road and training centre in Carnarvon, while also engaging residents on issues relating to science and technology and socio-economic challenges

“Hundreds of scientists are going to come to use the telescope and they will need to be supported, to be accommodated, to be looked after,” Pandor said. “We are going to need appropriate facilities for them in these towns, so there is immense opportunity.”

The minister also took stock of community development initiatives led by SKA South Africa, highlighting that Carnarvon, Williston and other surrounding towns would benefit from educational and economic opportunities once research commences at the radio telescope.

“Scientists will use the SKA to try and understand how the universe evolved, how stars and galaxies form and change, as well as unravelling the mysteries of ‘dark matter’ and ‘dark energy’.

“Scientists expect that the SKA will make new discoveries that are unimaginable at present.”

The SKA is supported by 10 member countries with more than 100 companies and research institutions from across 20 countries collaborating on the design and development of the telescope.