Astronomer recognised for contribution to science
● Research foundation honours ex-SKA director with Lifetime Achievement Award
Celebrated astronomer Bernard Fanaroff would not mind going back 71 years to explore what has made him a household name today – science.
It was his passion for science that led him to be become SA’s first scientist to successfully bid to host the world’s largest telescope.
Fanaroff was honoured with a National Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday evening at the Summerstrand Hotel in Port Elizabeth.
The former director of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project was acknowledged for contributions of international standard and impact‚ the development of science in and for SA over an extended period‚ and for the way his work has touched and shaped the lives and views of many South Africans.
National Research Foundation CEO Molapo Qhobela said the 71-year-old Fanaroff would be most remembered as the man who brought the SKA‚ which will be the largest scientific project in the world‚ to SA and the African continent.
“Dr Fanaroff is a rare individual who has dedicated his life to the betterment of society through his innovative scientific achievements‚ his activism against apartheid and his unwavering commitment to public service‚” Qhobela said.
Accepting the award‚ Fanaroff said he had been motivated by scientific curiosity and the desire to see social justice prevail‚ and had always been optimistic.
“There are challenges‚ yes‚ but there are always opportunities,” he said.
“And if we have the will‚ and we have the tenacity‚ and we work together‚ we can really solve any problem.
“We can see those problems as opportunities. We can build on them to create a great future for our country.”
Fanaroff graduated in theoretical physics from Wits University and, after obtaining a doctorate in radio astronomy from Cambridge University in 1974, he spent 19 years working for the Metal and Allied Workers Union.
After the country’s first democratic elections in 1994‚ he became deputy directorgeneral in the office of President Nelson Mandela.
He set up the South African SKA project office in 2003 and led the conceptualisation‚ development and construction of SKA’s precursor‚ the 64-dish MeerKAT telescope array‚ which was completed in March 2018.
Fanaroff retired in 2015 but is an adviser to the SKA project.
The foundation honoured 37 top researchers with special awards or by recognising them as P-rated (for under-35s who have held a doctorate or equivalent qualification for less than five years) or A-rated (which denotes unequivocal recognition by their peers as leading international scholars).
Present at the celebration on Wednesday night was Nelson Mandela University chancellor Geraldine FraserMoleketi.
Fraser-Moleketi drew enthusiastic and sustained applause for Fanaroff when she told him: “Bernie, Madiba is looking down and smiling at all of us – but especially you – tonight.”