Nearly 200 colleagues of all ages – including both specialists and non-specialists in radio astronomy research, engineering and high-performance computing – have come together to pursue a shared goal : to prepare for the scientific operation of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), which will be the largest radio astronomy observatory ever built, the result of an international coalition bringing together countries from five continents.
The conference also welcomed a number of prominent international guests, including :
- the current Director General of the SKAO
- the future Director General of the SKAO,
- the Chair of the SKAO Board,
- as well as the CEO of Bull, underscoring the importance attached to France’s contribution to the project.
Designed as a next-generation global infrastructure, the SKAO will profoundly transform our understanding of the Universe thanks to its unprecedented sensitivity and processing power.
This conference marked an important milestone in bringing together the French community around this instrument, which is set to revolutionise many fields of astrophysics.
As the observatory prepares to begin operations, the French community intends to play an active role in this global scientific venture, at the intersection of astrophysics, digital technology and disruptive technologies.
The full press release from SKA France can be found here.