ICRAR brings WA focus to SKA construction

On Monday the 5^th of December 2022, after decades of planning and co-ordination, the SKA’s Construction Commencement Ceremony (SKA C3) was held in Western Australia’s Murchison and South Africa’s Karoo regions.

As one of the reason’s ICRAR was established, seeing the SKA beginning construction in our own backyard was both a rewarding and exciting occasion for our team and our partners.

A/Professor Sascha Schediwy appeared on ABC Radio Perth and 6PR to discuss the SKA from a WA Angle.

Members of ICRAR’s executive team were invited to the official ceremony in WA’s Murchison for the SKA-Low, including Professor Lister Staveley-Smith from ICRAR’s UWA Node and Professor Steven Tingay from ICRAR’s Curtin University node.

Quotes from Professor Tingay were shared by the media and showcased the massive collaborative effort this project required, highlighting the work ICRAR and our colleagues at SKAO, CSIRO and the WA State Government have undertaken.

ICRAR staff were also interviewed by media across Australia and around the world, helping to showcase the importance of the SKA and discuss ICRAR’s contribution to the mega-project.

A/Professor Sascha Schediwy and Dr Danny Price spent much of the day travelling between studios in Perth, providing perspective on the SKA’s importance to both Western Australia and the world.

Meanwhile, Professor Cathryn Trott, who also serves as the SKA-Low Chief Operations Scientist, shared her insights on 96FM’s Breakfast show

For those among us who speak Italian, Professor Luca Cortese recorded a special SKA podcast for SBS news.

Many of our researchers were quoted in publications and online articles throughout the week, with A/Professor Schediwy, Dr Price, Professor Trott, Dr Nick Seymour and Professor Luca Cortese all having their quotes selected as part of AusSMC’s media package of expert insights, to guide journalists in their reporting.