By Tula Dlamini
"Man must rise above the Earth - to the top of the atmosphere and beyond - for only then will he fully understand the world in which he lives."
Socrates
South Africa and Australia are the two countries that are finalists in a bid to host the world’s largest telescope called the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The joint project by 19 countries is perhaps the single most significant development since the first man – Neil Armstrong - stepped out of the famous Apollo 11 space craft and landed on the moon in 1969.
The SKA will not necessarily bring light to the masses but while they toil in darkness – metaphorically speaking – the feudal aristocracy of global science plans to spend $2.5 billion on a radio telescope. Its proponents argue it may reveal if our days in this planet earth are numbered. It will explore the unknown – provide alternative views of the universe than those seen with the current telescopes. It will search for Earth-like planets and potential life elsewhere in the universe - test Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity - probe the so-called ‘dark ages’ – before stars and galaxies were formed about 13.7 billion years ago in an event called 'Big Bang'.
According to this theory – since the 'Big Bang' the universe has been expanding consistently. Scary as it might sound - scientists fear the possible reversal of this process. They do not know whether the density of matter in the universe is great enough to slow the expansion eventually – causing the universe to stop and ultimately collapsing back upon on itself. If that does happen – scientist have agreed to call that event when the universe suddenly ends – the 'Big Crunch'.
The 'Big Crunch' theory is not without is critics. You may have head about the groundbreaking lecture by Sir Roger Penrose called "What Happened Before the 'Big Bang'?" in which he concluded that not only is the universe expanding - it is accelerating - not slowing down - as was previously thought.
Sir Roger argues - "the 'big crunch' theory - that the universe would eventually shrink and collapse - is invalid".
This conclusion culminated in Sir Roger's new synthesis which he described as 'crazy ideas' - but as he points out, "the fact that (these ideas are) crazy doesn't mean you can't take them seriously!"
In many ways - the SKA is a frightening and expensive expedition for mankind - or at least thought-provoking. And whatever the outcome – the future of science will be vastly different from the past. It is scheduled for completion in 2023 in what developers say will be an extremely sensitive and versatile telescope - touted 50 times more efficient – powered by thousands of receptors - all linked together via a data communications network to a very large and powerful data processing facility on the core SKA site that is yet to be determined.
Who will host the SKA?
The process to determine the host country for the SKA is still ongoing. A decision is expected in 2012.
The SKA South Africa website specifies the entire Northern Cape Province, with the exception of the Sol Plaatje Municipality (Kimberley) as an astronomy advantage area. Within that an area of 12.5 million hectares is the main protected area - or radio astronomy reserve - for the SKA. This area is also referred to as the Karoo Central Astronomy Advantage Area. The rest of the advantage area includes areas where the last remaining true San (Bushman) people still live. It is hard to imagine theses locals are without some conceptions or ideas about the meaning of existence and its logic.
The Northern Cape - especially along the Orange and Vaal rivers - is rich in San rock engravings. The province is also rich in fossils - lies to the south of its most important asset - the mighty Orange River - which feeds the agriculture and alluvial diamonds industries.
The Australians have something similar in Western Australia; the Murchison region. Official figures say the area has an estimated population of 160 people. However - the native title representative body for the Traditional Owners of the Murchison - the Yamatji Land and Sea Council refutes the population census - claims to represent 24 different – mostly displaced Aboriginal groups - all with their own culture - language - and traditions.
Yamatji Marlpa'Yamatji' means Aboriginal 'man' in the Murchison.
Modern anthropology accepts that historically the Murchison was inhabited by the native aboriginal people. Yamatji is a direct response or challenge to those in authority and leadership who will never apologise to the thousands of Indigenous people who were taken from their families - their communities - their lands - their cultural ties ruptured - sometimes irreparably - but thankfully not always.
Both South Africa and the Australia bids are hugely supported by an elite consensus backed by a legislation; and both countries look to fund the SKA primarily from the public purse. Skills development - capabilities and expertise of those involved in astronomy and related scientific work has been the key focus so far. But equally - the role of satisfying human curiosity and knowledge creation must transcend formal education - allow interface with non-scientists. It’s a call for robust community outreach programmes to be integrated in the overall development of the SKA so as to ensure broad resident populations are not excluded.
One accepts that the frontiers of science have moved far away from the ordinary people but failure to factor broad participation in the process of knowledge creation will conspire to condemn others – particularly the so called pre literate societies - into extinction.
The score-card is not complete if it does not include the following questions:
1. Does the host have the pre-requisite broad political consensus that recognizes pure research in basic sciences as a common good that must attract public funding?
2. How will the SKA impact on local populations? What is expected of locals?
3. Does the host country provide sufficient institutional and legal mechanisms that ensure science education does not become the preserve of a few science elites but a right for all citizens who wish to embrace it – including the poor and marginalized in our midsts?
The SKA must face the abovementioned institutional challenges head on. If ignored – consider the future of science itself in doubt.
Rooting for South Africa
The history of scientific research is fraught with assumptions about generally everything – most of which unravel as soon as it is learnt. Yet this is not enough to rain the parade. African intellectuals and the continent's political leadership say owing to recent history of exploitation and colonization – Africa is running a deficit in science and innovation and that locating the SKA project in Africa is an opportunity for the continent to catch up – and to simultaneously drive the continent towards knowledge-based economies.
After all - in Africa – as well as among the so called pre literacy societies lies unexplored ‘indigenous knowledge systems’ that might help illuminate much of the discoveries already achieved through modern science
The elite consesus is loud and clear. At the 15th ordinary session of the assembly of heads of state and government held in July 2010 in Uganda – the African Union endorsed South Africa’s bid to host the SKA.
South Africa’s commitment is epitomized by the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill which was signed into law by former President Thabo Mbeki in 2007. The bill allocates the power to declare astronomy advantage areas to the Minister of Science and Technology which funds the SKA Project via the National Research Foundation.
“…and even if the SKA fails to resolve all its penciled assumptions -South Africa is already building the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) which is a forerunner instrument for the SKA - but will in its own right be amongst the largest and most powerful telescopes in the world,” says Dr Gatsha Mazithulela – Vice President - Research Infrastructure & National Research Facilities at the National Research Foundation.
MeerKAT is located nearby to the site proposed for the SKA near the small town of Carnarvon in the Northern Cape Province.
“Using Africa’s geographic advantage related to the southern hemisphere skies - the southern oceans – paleontological – floral - and other heritages - South Africa has taken a committed step in positioning the country as a destination for specialised activities in scientific research and development to an extent that the bid for the SKA is almost within grasp,” adds Mazithulela.
The five key science drivers for the SKA are outlined in the International SKA website as follows:
Cradle of life – this project will explore whether there are Earth-like planets around other stars, and whether they host intelligent life, thus helping to answer the eternal question of whether there is life elsewhere in the universe;
Probing the Dark Ages – this will explore the first black holes and stars, and help to answer the question of what happened after the big bang and before the first stars and galaxies formed;
The origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism - this will explore how magnetism affects the formation of stars and galaxies, and what maintains the present-day magnetic fields of galaxies, stars and planets;
Strong field tests of gravity using pulsars and black holes - this will help to test whether Einstein's theory of general relativity is the last word on gravity, for example, whether its predictions for black holes are correct, and whether the cosmos is filled with a gravitational wave background;
Galaxy evolution, cosmology, and dark matter - this will explore how galaxies are born and how they evolve, and seek a better understanding of the "dark energy" that fills the majority of the universe.
Several European countries,the USA,Canada,China,India including bid finalists Australia and South Africa are some of the participants in the SKA. It is a brave new world and countries are investing scarce public financial resources to figure Edwin Hubble’s theory of the expanding universe – while facing starry eyed at collapsing provision of primary health care - education – housing and jobs - to name but a few. Yet we all must concede; scientific research is essential for our economic future and human intelligence is the most valuable stuff in the universe.
Ke Nako – it is time for Africa.
See list of SKA partners and additional information here
See excerpt from a talk given by Roger Penrose on his theory of 'crazy science' here
1 comments:
Very informative, and also thought provoking.
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