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With the launch of the MeerKAT telescope this week, South Africa still has the clearest view of the Milky Way, central to our galaxy. But there are few South Africans able to work around these mega-machines.
Durban astronomers urged children to take the lead in the stars because the space industry is booming and offers many opportunities for employment. The KwaZulu-Natal Astrophysical and Cosmological Research Unit (ACRU) held the National Astronomy Workshop last week for over 60 young science and engineering students on what awaits them in the space industry and the financing that awaits them. 19659003] Currently, the largest radio telescope in the world, the Space Kilometer Array (SKA), is under construction, partly in the Karoo region of South Africa and in a similar semi-desert area in Australia.
High frequency antennas through which astronomers will closely monitor what lies beyond the sky, better than with any other radio telescope in the world.
The Director of ACRU, Professor Sunil Maharaj, said Initially, most workers from science-rich countries were drawn to South Africa to get things done.
"Historically, astronomy was not a major subject in South Africa.This was not a topic pushed to school or considered a career option as the medicine or law.But there are tremendous employment opportunities in this industry with a mbadive shortage of astronomers. "
A few years ago, ACRU introduced a first degree diploma cycle in astronomy at the UKZN
. Said Maharaj: "There are many jobs around SKA, including telescope engineering and maintenance, scientists who operate various parts of the telescope, and so on.
A solid knowledge, and of course, in the field of mathematics and science would give you a ticket to study astronomy. "The Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) participated in the conference to inform students about funding opportunities for research. We also taught students how to bademble a scientific research paper, "said Maharaj
SARAO directs the SKA project.
The MeerKAT, a precursor instrument of the SKA telescope, was an example of Professor Phil Diamond, director SKA general organization, said: "By using our talent, our innovation and our ambition, our South African colleagues have created MeerKAT, a proudly South African instrument." [19659003] The instrument of 64 dishes provides the clearest view that the world has ever had galaxies far, far, including the Milky Way.
Maharaj said that interests in the stars start at a young age, and mu
He added: "At the school level, we must capture the imagination of children. When they look at the sky and the stars and wonder what there is there, we must use astronomy to develop their interest and help them explore the world. "
ACRU can be contacted via their website www .acru.ukzn.ac.za
SUNDAY TRIBUNE
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