Programme Director;
Director-General of the Department of Science and Innovation, Dr Phil Mjwara;
Former and current CEOs of the NRF, Dr Khotso Mokhele and Prof. Fulufhelo Nelwamondo;
Deputy CEO of the NRF, Dr Angus Paterson;
Director-General of SKAO, Dr Phil Diamond;
Former and current Managing Directors of the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, Dr Bernie Fanaroff, Dr Rob Adam and Ms Pontsho Maruping.
President of INAF, Prof. Tavani Marco;
Science Director at INAF, Dr. Zerbi Filippo;
Director of Fundamental Physics in Radio Astronomy Department at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR)
Prof. Kramer Michael;
Dr George Nicolson;
Prof. Patricia Whitelock;
Media;
Distinguished guests:
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is my honour and privilege to deliver the keynote address at this [MeerKAT@5 Celebration](mailto:MeerKAT@5 Celebration) Conference. This occasion marks a significant milestone in our ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe and stands as a testament to the remarkable achievements of the scientific community in international collaboration.
As a country that has a long and storied history in radio astronomy that dates back several decades, we have been at the forefront of radio astronomy research since the mid-20th century.
One of our first significant milestones in the history of South African radio astronomy is the establishment of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) near Johannesburg.
First constructed as a NASA Deep Space Tracking Station in 1961, it was later converted into a radio telescope in 1975. HartRAO has played a pivotal role in advancing radio astronomy research in the region and has been instrumental in a wide range of scientific discoveries.
Another significant milestone was the commissioning of the KAT-7 radio telescope array in 2012, which marked a turning point for radio astronomy in South Africa. KAT-7, the precursor to the MeerKAT telescope, demonstrated our country's capability to design, build, and operate cutting-edge radio telescopes.
As we commemorate five years since the completion of the MeerKAT telescope, we are not only celebrating a technological marvel but also reflecting on the profound scientific discoveries and advancements it has enabled.
MeerKAT has revolutionised our understanding of the universe, offering unprecedented insights into celestial phenomena, and unveiling the secrets of our cosmic landscape.
From its conception to its operational excellence today, MeerKAT embodies the spirit of scientific inquiry and innovation, inspiring generations of astronomers and researchers to explore the vast expanse of space.
MeerKAT was designed to be a 'world-leading telescope', at the time the best of its kind in the Southern hemisphere. The ingenuity and hard work of South African engineers and scientists, with the support of many international partners, has delivered an instrument that far exceeds what we have originally planned for.
We have delivered a scientific instrument that can begin to answer some of the most pressing scientific questions posed by the astronomical community today. This is evidenced by the huge response to the open time calls issued by SARAO.
SARAO recently received 170 proposals with PIs in 22 countries. This represents an enormous oversubscription, requesting 4.3 times more telescope time than available.
The image of the centre of our galaxy shared at its inauguration was not only beautiful but also ushered in a new era of radio telescopes. Meerkat came to life in an era that discovered unprecedented numbers and varieties of new galaxies as it also delivered incredibly detailed images of regions of our Milky Way galaxy.
A year after its launch, experimental results based on the full 64 array of the MeerKAT telescope started flowing in, slowly at first, and more recently at an accelerating pace.
To date, more than 260 articles with MeerKAT data have been published – with 40% in the last year alone. However, we are just scraping the surface, with huge amounts of scientific data available for deeper exploration for many years to come.
Significantly, Meerkat’s impact on astronomical science was recognised by the Royal Astronomical Society of London with its 2023 Group Achievement Award in Astronomy conferred to the MeerKAT Team.
In its citation, the Royal Astronomy Society of London said: “After more than a decade of development and operations, the MeerKAT team have, in a short time, achieved spectacular advances in radio astronomy.
Among the many breakthrough observations, the MeerKAT images of the Galactic Centre region revealed for the first time the amazing large-scale radio bubbles around Sagittarius A* supermassive black hole and tantalizing evidence of a common origin for these bubbles.
MeerKAT also tracked the radio afterglow of the first ever observed neutron star merger-event, revealed powerful ejections from a stellar-mass black hole and contributed to the detection of the first afterglow from a gamma-ray burst detected by ground-based Cherenkov telescopes.
However, Meerkat has been a pioneer in a second sense. It has supported an intensive programme of human capital development in Africa, stress-tested the technology for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and helped train the next generation of radio astronomers.
Beyond its scientific contributions, MeerKAT stands as a beacon of technological innovation, and created an important scientific scaffolding on the basis of which South Africa, together with Australia, could offer to host next-generation radio telescopes, notably, the Square Kilometre Array.
The expertise gained from designing, constructing, and operating MeerKAT have positioned South Africa at the forefront of African radio astronomy, and in significant ways also global radio astronomy, in the process fostering a thriving ecosystem of research, education, and technological development.
One of MeerKAT’s legacies is the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) – a 450-person strong organisation ready to deliver next-generation technological solutions for the global astronomy community.
MeerKAT’s scientific and engineering brilliance could not have happened without the efficacy of its Human Capital Development (HCD) programme, which aims to bring young people into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and of course, a pipeline for future generations of radio astronomers.
Ladies and gentlemen, when our country’s journey to the SKA began in 2003, there were only a handful of South African radio astronomers. Today, we are proud to state that approximately a quarter of MeerKAT proposals are led by South Africans.
It was important to build the local radio astronomy community as quickly as possible so that our country could reap the intellectual benefits of investing in this exciting global project.
In line with the pan African thinking of our White Paper on Science, Technology, and Innovation, we view the development of science, technology and innovation in our country as connected to the broader development of the African continent.
For this reason, we have also made good on our commitment to the SKA African partner countries by building science capacity and extending the HCD support to students from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia.
I am particularly excited that many of SARAO’s HCD beneficiaries and alumni are participating at this conference – not just to listen, but also to present their research results to a community of peers.
To illustrate the point:
- 70 of the delegates are HCD funded postgraduate and postdoctoral alumni, faculty, research chairs, visiting professors and supervisors/co-supervisors;
- 25 of the talks will be delivered by HCD alumni and current beneficiaries;
- 22 students currently funded by HCD are in attendance;
- 29 of delegates are HCD postgraduate/postdoc alumni;
- 27 of delegates are currently/previously in a South African research facility, funded by HCD, and
- 5 of delegates are HCD alumni employed at an international research facility.
As we commemorate five years of MeerKAT's operational excellence, we must also look towards the future of African radio astronomy with a sense of anticipation and ambition. The next phase of MeerKAT's evolution has already started through the MeerKAT Extension project.
This is a joint endeavour by SARAO, the German Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the Italian National Astrophysics Institute, to develop exciting novel capabilities for MeerKAT in the context of its eventual contributions to SKA-Mid.
It will increase both the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the existing MeerKAT telescope array and provide an even more powerful instrument to study the formation and evolution of galaxies throughout the history of the Universe, among other topics.
Looking ahead, the future of radio astronomy in South Africa is brighter than ever before. With the construction of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) well underway, our country is poised to play a leading role in one of the most ambitious scientific projects of the 21st century.
It pleases me greatly me to indicate that construction of the SKA-MID dish structures on the MeerKAT site has already started. As you may be aware, the SKA will be the largest and most powerful radio telescope ever built, with the potential to revolutionise our understanding of the universe and address some of the most pressing questions in astrophysics about the early history of the universe, ancient stars and galaxies, gravitational waves, dark energy and dark matter.
As a country, our investment in astronomy over the last 15 years is based on the strategic decision made by the then Department of Science and Technology in 2004 to develop those areas of science in which South Africa enjoys a geographic advantage such as astronomy and palaeosciences.
Today we are able to witness how this strategic choice is beginning to yield significant scientific returns for astronomy, and MeerKAT is a realisation of this long-term strategic commitment. South Africa is increasingly becoming an attractive and reliable global science partner.
Moreover, a recently concluded independent socio-economic impact study has confirmed that the design, construction, and operation of the MeerKAT telescope resulted in positive socioeconomic benefits to the Karoo communities, the Northern Cape Province, and the country at large.
The study concluded, based on economic modelling, that radio astronomy investments of R8.2 billion over 10 years have realised the following impact investment has created over 23000 job opportunities, and increased GDP by R8.9bn.
Other benefits include education and skills development opportunities. The presence of MeerKAT has led to increased educational opportunities for the community closest to the telescope site.
The project has established partnerships with local schools and educational institutions, offering various programs to enhance scientific literacy and promote interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Students have access to astronomy workshops, internships, and scholarships, allowing them to develop skills in areas such as data analysis, engineering, and computer science. Carnarvon has even delivered an internationally awarded school robotics team.
The construction and operation of MeerKAT has generated employment opportunities for local residents. The project has provided jobs in various fields, including engineering, construction, maintenance, and administration.
This has contributed to the economic growth of the area and improved the livelihoods of individuals and families in Carnarvon. It has also positioned the local sub-contractors and local labour to take advantage of the SKA construction opportunities.
The establishment of MeerKAT has led to the development of necessary infrastructure in Carnarvon. This includes the construction of roads, power supply networks, and telecommunication facilities to support the telescope's operations.
These infrastructure developments have not only facilitated the functioning of MeerKAT but have also improved the overall infrastructure of the town, benefiting the local population.
The SARAO team continues to actively engage with the local community through various outreach initiatives. They have organised public talks, stargazing events, and science festivals to raise awareness about astronomy and the telescope's significance.
These activities have encouraged community involvement, sparked interest in science among residents, and fostered a sense of pride in their local scientific achievements. The presence of MeerKAT has attracted visitors from around the world, including scientists, researchers, and tourists interested in astronomy.
This influx of visitors has contributed to the growth of tourism in the country and in Carnarvon and the surrounding areas. It is clear that radio astronomy in South Africa has a rich history, remarkable achievements, and a promising future.
From the pioneering work of early astronomers to the cutting-edge research conducted with MeerKAT and the future prospects of the SKA, our country continues to make significant contributions to our understanding of the cosmos.
As part of our commitment to strengthening global collaboration in astronomy, from the 6th-15th August this year, our country will have the privilege of hosting the 32nd International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly (GA) in Cape Town.
As some of you may be aware, this is an international gathering of astronomers that takes place every three years and lasts for 10 days. This will be the first such meeting in the 100-year history of the body that takes place in Africa and we expect about 3 000 astronomers to descend on our shores from different parts of the world.
In conclusion, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to everyone involved in the MeerKAT project, past and present, for their unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence. Your contributions have not only transformed our understanding of the cosmos but also inspired future generations to dream big and reach for the stars.
As we look ahead to the next chapter of radio astronomy in South Africa, let us embrace the spirit of exploration, collaboration, and discovery that has defined our journey thus far. Perhaps Africa - the birthplace of all humans who ever lived on this planet - would also be the place where we will finally answer some of the great cosmic mysteries that have haunted us for millenia.
Thank you.
