CONTACT ISSUE O6 DECEMBER 2020

FINAL SPRINT BEFORE SKA LAUNCH

LET’S TALK ABOUT... THE ORIGINS OF LIFE

DELIVERING A ‘SOFTWARE TELESCOPE’ CONTENTS

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SKA Global HQ corridors were sadly empty for much of this due to the pandemic COVID-19 workplace procedures, 12 25 28 risk assessments and controls recently got the stamp of approval from the British Safety Council (BSC).

FOREWORD INSIGHT  Dear Friends and Colleagues, 03 Prof. Philip Diamond, SKA Director-General 18 Delivering a ‘software telescope’ 21 Trouble in the skies? – An interview on 2020 – what a year! If you cast your mind back, • December 2019 – March 2020: successful satellite mega- IN BRIEF the big news at the beginning of the year was SKA1 critical design review; the Australian bushfires; we all felt for family, • March 2020: successful operations review; friends and colleagues in and didn’t 04 Remembering Nichi D’Amico PATHFINDERS • April 2020: successful, external, cost audit; think things could get much worse. Well, it looks 04 Uncovering the birthplaces of planets with the SKA 24 LOFAR contributes to new solar eruption warning system different now! In January the WHO announced • June 2020: South Africa ratifies; 05 Teams ready for SKA Science Data Challenge 2 that a deadly coronavirus had been detected, I • July 2020: successful business-enabling 24 CHIME detection may resolve mysterious origin of FRBs don’t think any of us (except the epidemiologists review; 05 Towards SKA Regional Centres - the Portuguese case 25 First direct detection of a brown and pandemic experts) understood what that • September 2020: Australia ratifies the 06 CSIRO’s iconic Parkes telescope dwarf with a meant – we do now. We’re living with the global Convention; given Indigenous name impact of COVID-19 and will be for some time to 26 ASKAP creates ‘Google Map’ of the Universe • September 2020: the SKA Board of Directors come, although it is wonderful to see the rapid 07 Monitoring wildfires in Portugal with endorses the SKA1 Construction Proposal 27 Upgraded GMRT gives new insights development and roll out of vaccines; let us hope SKA-related technology (CP) and the Observatory Establishment and into galaxy evolution 2021 sees a return to a normal world. 07 UK fellowship awarded to expand LOFAR research Delivery Plan (OEDP); The world of politics in 2020 has been fascinating TEAM SKA • December 2020: Italy, Portugal and the UK and worrying, with a hugely visible presidential ratify the Convention; FOCUS ON election in the USA – and significant threats to 28 Prof.Tao An – Head of SKA group at • December 2020: the Council Preparatory democracy, although it is good to see the checks Shanghai Astronomical Observatory Task Force completes its 19th and final 08 Final sprint before SKA Observatory launch and balances working. For those of us in the UK, meeting and passes its final report and 09 The SKA Observatory: our future and our European neighbours, Brexit has been a numerous policies to the SKAO Council for EVENTS show that has been painful to watch. The world approval. woke up, yet again, to the need to fight endemic LET’S TALK ABOUT 32 Workshop: Heritage, History and Indigenous Astronomy racism with the explosion of the Black Lives Achieving all of these milestones is testament to the highly professional team at SKA Organisation 10 The origins of life 32 Workshop: Tackling research accessibility Matter movement; and saw sexism and misogyny tackled but not yet beaten on various fronts. and across our partner institutes; it is an 33 Announcing the 2021 SKA science conference enormous body of work and I congratulate all On a more parochial and much more positive FEATURED IMAGE staff and colleagues, all of whom contributed to NEWS & JOBS note, after an extremely good year for the SKA, this achievement. 12 Goodbye to Arecibo we end it the best possible way with a Note 2021 will see an equally auspicious year for the 34 News Roundup / Partner Publications Verbale from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office informing us that the SKA SKA, with the birth of the SKAO in January, to HQ CORNER 35 SKA Jobs Observatory Convention will officially enter into be celebrated at its first Council meeting. This force on 15 January 2021, marking the start of a will be followed soon thereafter by the formal 14 2 minutes with… Dr Sheila Kanani – Outreach & new era in the SKA history. transition from the SKA Organisation to SKAO Diversity Officer, Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and then, hopefully, Council approval to begin Previous editions of Contact, and our various SKA construction. I also hope to see more 14 Keeping team spirit alive in the time of COVID-19 news items and press releases have covered countries join the Observatory as Members. 15 Marking Black History Month the various milestones this year, but it is worth gathering them all in one place, because it is an I wish good health and good cheer to all of you, 15 Nigeria’s first radio astronomer impressive story: the SKA family, as we end 2020, with a bright 16 SKAO procurement preparations ramping up • August 2019: The Netherlands ratifies the light in front of us for 2021. 17 Two of agile software development at SKA SKA Observatory Convention; Prof. Philip Diamond, SKA Director-General

2 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 3 IN BRIEF IN MEMORY OF TEAMS READY FOR SKA NICOLÒ D’AMICO SCIENCE DATA CHALLENGE 2 (1953 – 2020) BY SKAO Registration is complete for the SKA BY ANDREA POSSENTI (INAF) his key role Science Data Challenge 2, with around in the Parkes 30 teams taking part from more than 60 institutions all over the world. The completely unexpected and sudden death of Prof. Nicolò Multibeam surveys (1998- D’Amico (Palermo 1953 – Soleminis 2020), President of the The challenge will see teams analyse a 2004), which Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), has been an 1 terabyte (TB) simulated SKA HI data doubled the number irreparable loss for the Italian astrophysics community and cube, using their own software tools to of catalogued beyond, and left a huge void in all the many people who, like identify and determine the properties and led to the discovery me, had the privilege to work with him. During the years of his of galaxies across a distance of four of the still unique double Presidency, Prof. D’Amico fully exploited his natural aptitude billion light years. to synthesise all the received suggestions into a precise vision PSR J0737−3039. That made him one of the recipients of for the development of astrophysics: to maximise the quality the prestigious “Descartes Prize” for outstanding European An international network of high- scientific collaborations in 2005, among other prizes. Prof. of the research, and to make that a flywheel of growth, while performance computing centres are “The external SRC network will be Feedback from participants and the D’Amico meanwhile obtained a full professorship at the paying special attention to education, outreach activities and a crucial element to the challenge, how the SKA Observatory interacts computing centres will be used to University of Cagliari and became director of the local science communication. He was the voting member for Italy providing access, processing and with our user community, so beginning further inform work on the SRC model. Astronomical Observatory and, later, director of the project in the SKA Board of Directors, and thanks to his remarkable storage for the data. This is similar to put this idea into practice via the SKAO is also encouraging best practice for the construction of the . In managerial capabilities, coupled with an always crystal-clear to how the SKA Observatory will Data Challenge is an important step by working with the UK-based Software autumn 2015, he was nominated President of INAF, and he and sound approach to the world of the institutions, he was disseminate the telescopes’ data in demonstrating how this will work Sustainability Institute to give awards to was confirmed for a second term in December 2019, the first the main actor in securing the long-term Italian funding for the via SKA Regional Centres (SRCs) in effectively as a system,” says SKA teams that demonstrate reproducibility president to be reconfirmed in the history of this prestigious project and in promoting SKA. the future. Science Director Dr Robert Braun. “It (using methods that can be replicated Italian institution. has also strengthened links between by others to achieve the same results). Graduating in Physics in 1977, only four years later Prof. Eight facilities are involved, including these facilities. We’ve had their Reproducibility lies at the heart of the D’Amico, known as “Nichi”, was already “permanent” at two prototype SRCs: IRIS UK (part representatives together in a virtual SKA’s Open Science approach to its the University of Palermo. After beginning with gamma-ray Above: Prof. Nichi D’amico during the second SKA IGO of the UK Science and Technology room discussing provision and access, future operations. Making software astronomy, a visit to CSIRO in Australia re-oriented his studies Negotiations meeting in January 2016 at the Accademia dei Facilities Council), SKA France, which is something we have never had processing techniques open in this way towards radio pulsars, the apex of which was reached with Lincei in Rome. Shanghai proto-SRC, Australia before now.” means they can also be built on for proto-SRC, Italy’s National Institute other, different purposes in the future. for Astrophysics - Information and Through December teams will each be Communications Technologies (ICT), given access to one of the computing UNCOVERING THE Institute for Astrophysics of Andalucía facilities, ready for the challenge to Above: Map of high-performance (IAA) in Spain, ENGAGE-SKA in formally kick off on 15 January. The computing centres involved in SDC2. BIRTHPLACES OF PLANETS Portugal, and the Swiss National results are due to be announced in July Eight facilities are involved, including Supercomputing Centre (CSCS). 2021. two prototype SRCs. WITH THE SKA BY HILARY KAY (THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER – UK SKA) TOWARDS SKA REGIONAL Advancing our understanding of how habitable planets form is one of the key science drivers of the SKA telescopes. Now a team of astronomers, led by Dr John Ilee at the University of Leeds in the UK, has performed the first investigation into the CENTRES - THE PORTUGUESE CASE capability of the SKA-Mid telescope to observe the structure of protoplanetary discs, the birthplace of planets.

As planets form from the collision and coalescence of dust Read more in our Let’s talk about... the origins of life article on BY DOMINGOS BARBOSA AND SONIA ANTÓN (INSTITUTO DE TELECOMUNICAÇÕES) particles, they create structure in the disk, carving out pages 10 and 11. concentric gaps at their location. Analysis of this structure can SKA software development and prototyping work on the SKA Regional Centres will be bolstered by a new provide crucial information on the composition of the disk and Centre of Competence in Advanced Computing. the properties of the planets themselves. Dr Ilee’s team has created a model of a protoplanetary disk similar to the famous Currently under commissioning, the The Centre of Competence is part of Telecomunicações (IT) focusing on 5G, HL Tau -disk system, which they have used to simulate the centre is installed at the University of the National Advanced Computing SKA and the local Software Bridging observations that will be obtained by the SKA-Mid telescope Aveiro (UA) in Portugal. The new centre Network and acts as a gateway to its Teams and space science projects. when it is fully operational. is the result of a cooperation protocol supercomputing centres, with the high “Aveiro has internationally recognised signed on 9 November between UA storage capacity and state-of-the-art expertise in highly relevant areas, The team has confirmed that SKA-Mid will be able to detect and the Foundation for Science and software and visualisation hardware for ranging from communications and emission from centimetre-sized pebbles, allowing them to Technology (FCT) as part of the national Big Data analysis. These capacities will security to Big Data and artificial analyse the structure created in the disk as planets form, strategy InCODe 2030, and was be key ingredients to the prototype intelligence,” said João Paulo Barraca, shedding light on a crucial step in the formation of planets. inaugurated in the presence of Manuel Portuguese SKA Regional Centre that is from IT and DETI-UA. “This centre As a result of its large field of view, SKA-Mid will be able Heitor, Portugal’s Minister of Science, currently being developed by ENGAGE opens new avenues to pursue first to observe dozens of protoplanetary disks simultaneously, Technology and Higher Education. SKA researchers at UA. In the near class science, and joint industry and providing robust tests of planet formation. “Understanding Simulated SKA-Mid observations (Band 5b, 67 mas) of a This milestone will strengthen national future, the Centre will receive a strong academia innovation actions, as well as how the raw material for planet formation behaves is essential protoplanetary disk host to three giant planets (left), with a scientific production in areas involving boost from the European Commission. a stronger training environment to its if we are to understand how planetary systems, like our own representation of our own Solar System on the same scale advanced digital skills, such as artificial alumni.” The inauguration was followed by a Solar System, come into existence. SKA-Mid will allow us to (right). Credit: John D. Ilee, University of Leeds (Ilee et al. intelligence and Big Data. observe this clearly for the first time,” Dr Ilee says. 2020, MNRAS, 498, 5116). presentation at Instituto de

4 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 5 IN BRIEF MONITORING WILDFIRES IN PORTUGAL WITH SKA-RELATED TECHNOLOGY BY DOMINGOS BARBOSA AND MIGUEL BERGANO (ENGAGE-SKA, INSTITUTO DE TELECOMUNICAÇÕES)

One of the major hazards in Portugal is wild forest fires. Fires have great economic impact and pose a serious life threat to communities.

The improvement of real-time fire According to monitoring and fire mapping has Alexandra Moutinho, become a top national priority following Principal investigator the extreme incidents and loss of life of the Eye in the Sky of the last few years. To tackle fire project, “our aim is to prevention, a new project called Eye develop a platform for in the Sky is using a combination of Earth observation that information technologies developed fills the gap between for the SKA (such as cloud computing the large but time- technologies and communication constrained coverage technologies for infrastructure provided by satellites, Diagram of Eye in the Sky management and device control) by and the on-demand the ENGAGE-SKA team at Instituto local coverage provided by drones. control systems combined with modern de Telecomunicações (IT), with high The autonomy and long range of our radio technologies enable reliable and altitude balloons (HAB) equipped solution makes it an interesting one real-time secure communication of CSIRO’S ICONIC PARKES with observation and communications for environmental monitoring missions critical forest fire data.” payloads and unmanned aerial vehicles like wildfire detection or oceanic Eye in the Sky is a collaboration (UAV) responsible for the payload’s observation.” between the Mechanical Engineering RADIO TELESCOPE precise positioning above fire fronts. As IT Auxiliary Researcher Miguel Institute at IST Lisbon, the Association It aims to improve the reliability Bergano adds: “Information for the Development of Industrial GIVEN INDIGENOUS NAME of information for ground-based technologies developed for Aerodynamics (ADAI) at University firefighting crews and provides real-time fundamental research projects like of Coimbra and IT. It is funded by BY DR STACY MADER (CSIRO) geotagged imagery to decision-making the SKA also enable applications with Portuguese national funds through centres that coordinate the fighting wider socio-economic benefits. Here, FCT, the Foundation for Science and To mark Australia’s NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) week, where the culture and resources. technologies developed for the SKA’s Technology. achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples are celebrated, CSIRO’s famous Parkes radio telescope was given a traditional name by local Wiradjuri Elders.

The 64-metre telescope, an SKA pathfinder, is located on Wiradjuri Elder Dr Stan Grant AM revealed the names. “This Wiradjuri country in New South Wales, about 380km west of is a very proud day for our people and something that has UK FELLOWSHIP AWARDED Sydney. been coming for a long time,” said Dr Grant. “The naming of the telescope is one of the biggest things to happen to our During a naming ceremony it received the name Murriyang, TO EXPAND LOFAR people,” referring to when as a young boy, it was illegal for which represents the ‘Skyworld’ where a prominent creator the Wiradjuri to speak their language in public. spirit of the Wiradjuri Dreaming, Biyaami (Baiame), lives. Two RESEARCH smaller telescopes at the Parkes Observatory also received Over two years, CSIRO’s local Parkes staff worked in Wiradjuri names. collaboration with Wiradjuri Elders, the NSW Aboriginal BY HILARY KAY (THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER – UK SKA) Education Consultative Group and the North West Wiradjuri Language and Culture NEST on the telescope naming project. Dr Leah Morabito, an Assistant Council (STFC). hole Professor at Durham University in the activity “Science is the search for truth, often we think we are the During her career, Dr Morabito has UK, has been awarded a prestigious at the first to discover it, but much of the knowledge we seek was developed specialised data processing UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) centre of discovered long before us,” said CSIRO Chief Executive Dr techniques for the Low Frequency Future Leaders Fellowship to continue these galaxies Larry Marshall. “We’re honoured that the Wiradjuri Elders Array (LOFAR) to achieve the highest her research into galaxy evolution, one on the growth of , paving the way have given traditional names to our telescopes at Parkes, to resolution images at low frequencies, of the science drivers for the SKA. for future surveys with the SKA. connect them with the oldest scientific tradition in the world.” which are crucial in investigating active The Parkes telescopes join CSIRO’s Australian SKA Pathfinder Originally from the United States, Dr supermassive black holes in distant ”I’m really excited because this (ASKAP) in in being given traditional names. Morabito began her career in the US galaxies. Dr Morabito’s Future Leaders fellowship will allow me to build a Each of ASKAP’s 36 dishes at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Air Force before moving to Leiden Fellowship secures an immediate diverse team to unlock the secrets of Observatory has a name selected by the local Wajarri Yamatji University in the Netherlands to leadership role for her in fully enabling supermassive black holes and how community. complete her PhD and subsequently and exploiting SKA pathfinder LOFAR’s important they are in galaxy evolution. becoming a Hintze Fellow at the transformational imaging resolution We’ll use an SKA pathfinder to develop Read more here. University of Oxford in the UK. She in grand-scale low-frequency sky techniques and talent for the future,” is a member of the UK SKA Science surveys, that will remain unrivalled Dr Morabito says. for the foreseeable future. Zooming Telescopes at CSIRO’s Parkes Observatory received Committee, which acts as a liaison between the SKA Organisation and the in on the radio emission from tens of Wiradjuri names at a ceremony on 8 November 2020. thousands of galaxies will provide an Dr Leah Morabito, Durham University Credit: C. Watson/CSIRO. wider UK science community, through Credit: Leah Morabito, Durham the Science and Technology Facilities unprecedented to measure the influence of supermassive black University

6 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 7 FOCUS ON FINAL SPRINT BEFORE SKA OBSERVATORY LAUNCH

BY SKAO

After years of international negotiations and 18 months of ratifications, the SKA Observatory (SKAO) can now The Convention, officially be established. The positive conclusion to held in the 2020 follows a flurry of activity which saw Australia, HQ’s Council Portugal and the United Kingdom ratify within weeks Chamber, starts of each other. with a preamble The UK’s confirmation of their for Industry, highlighting ratification on 16 December meant the Science and fundamental threshold of five countries including Technology principles of the all three hosts had been achieved the Hon Karen Observatory THE SKA OBSERVATORY: (exceeded, in fact, with six ratifications Andrews MP in total). This kicked off a 30-day describing OUR FUTURE notification period after which the the SKA project as a “great example of contributed with several key computing SKA Observatory will formally come how science and technology can drive infrastructures designed to support the BY PROF. PHILIP DIAMOND, SKA DIRECTOR-GENERAL into being and the first Council of the industry forward, to grow our economy wider Portuguese scientific community. SKA Observatory, governing body and create the jobs of tomorrow”. A large share of their compute time What will be the philosophy and ethos fundamental science and technology, other astronomy/scientific organisations representing the Member States, can Australia has a long history of leading will be open to society for studies as of SKAO? We have an opportunity to to educate the next generation, to help to ensure the health of our profession. meet. The first Council is now expected in . As well as ASKAP diverse as fire monitoring, precision build a 21st century observatory and strengthen STEM skills and to ensure We rely on a strong user community to take place in early 2021. and MWA, it is also home to the iconic agriculture, and the COVID-19 inter-governmental organisation from we maintain a strong user community. and strong radio astronomy institutes Parkes telescope, an SKA pathfinder pandemic, a prime example of radio the ground up; to establish a culture We must also work with our partners in our member nations for SKAO to As we bow out of 2020, almost all the and the second largest steerable radio astronomy’s wider impact in society. that will last for decades. to ensure that technologies and other prosper. founding members of SKAO are in telescope in the southern hemisphere. Finally, on Wednesday 16 December, innovations developed for the SKA place: Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, First, we should establish the mission of I am also determined that SKAO came the announcement that the deliver impact and benefit society. Portugal, South Africa and the UK. The SKAO. For me, that can be captured in will continue the tradition of SKA United Kingdom had ratified the If 2020 has shown us anything, it is seventh country to have signed the the following brief paragraph: Organisation as a world-class employer Convention. Jodrell Bank, Home to SKA SKA treaty, China, is expected to ratify that the world needs science and and partner. We will continue to offer Global Headquarters, was recognised The SKA Observatory’s mission is, early next year, as well as Sweden technology more than ever, and we in an attractive, welcoming and inclusive as a UNESCO World Heritage Site through a global collaboration, to and India, who took part radio astronomy must do our part. environment, treating everyone with in 2019 for its contributions to radio build and operate cutting-edge radio in the negotiations fairness and respect. We have and will astronomy. It is the central hub of the telescopes to answer fundamental We also have a responsibility to our but did not sign at continue to enhance a strong policy UK’s e-MERLIN national facility. This questions about our Universe. user community to ensure that they can the time. Other on equality, diversity and inclusion; network of seven radio telescopes produce transformational science using current members To deliver on this mission, SKAO, with it will be embedded within the DNA spread across the UK (including the the SKA. To that end, we must do all we of the SKA its distributed workforce, must operate of the Observatory and its staff: we iconic 76m ) together can to build the first phase of the SKA Organisation as a single, integrated facility. This can do and will ‘walk the walk’. We will form an SKA pathfinder instrument. on schedule and within budget. This is are also be summarised by the mantra under continue to foster a culture of creativity, UK institutions supported by the always a challenge for such high-tech, following which we have developed our joint innovation and professional excellence, Science and Technology Facilities world-first facilities, but we believe we their own thinking over the last years: “The SKA allowing ideas to thrive to deliver Council (STFC) led the SKA’s Science have a well-crafted CP with appropriate path towards will be one Observatory, with two value to our staff and community. We Data Processor and Signal and Data budgetary and time contingencies. We accession to Portugal’s ratification was announced telescopes, on three continents, all will continue to work with our global SKAO and it Transport engineering design consortia. must also ensure, with our members, on 11 December at a virtual event working as an integrated whole”. that the tools and SKA Regional partners and local stakeholders in is expected attended by Minister of Science, “The ambition of the Square Kilometre a spirit of collaboration and mutual We have committed to build a Centre infrastructure is delivered to they will join Technology and Higher Education Array is one of the most important respect, recognising their roles as key sustainable Observatory; this must lie at maximise the impact of SKA science. the Observatory Manuel Heitor. “Portugal’s participation scientific endeavours of our generation participants in the project. the heart of any 21st century scientific I am also committed to working with in the course of in the SKA programme and the fact that could open up unprecedented facility. To do this we must be seen as a the members to deliver a well-funded Finally, and vitally, we will continue next year. that Portugal is a founding member opportunities for astronomers across leader and act as an exemplar in all our Observatory Development Programme, with the establishment of strong of the SKA Observatory opens new the world,” said UK Science Minister “To end this difficult actions. As such, we will ensure that our which will drive continual development relationships with the Indigenous opportunities for young people, Amanda Solloway. “The UK is proudly year on such a positive actions always consider sustainability, of technology, techniques, data communities around the telescope researchers, astronomy professionals home to the SKA headquarters and note, with all the necessary steps we will ensure that we minimise our processing and analysis so that SKA sites, building on the initiatives our and amateurs in Portugal to be involved today’s milestone brings us one completed for the SKA Observatory impact on the environment and, as you remains at the forefront of world partner organisations in Australia and in one of the most revolutionary step closer to constructing these Convention to enter into force, is a will see in the Construction Proposal astronomy and science. South Africa have initiated and using scientific cooperation initiatives at sophisticated telescopes that will testament to the determination of those (CP) and the Observatory Establishment these as an inspiration to make sure a global level,” said Manuel Heitor, enable our scientists to explore the It is my ambition to establish SKAO as across the SKA to keep things moving and Delivery Plan, we will do our part our journey benefits them as well; we Portuguese Minister of Science, universe in more detail than ever before the world-leader in radio astronomy. no matter the obstacles,” says SKA in delivering on the UN’s Sustainable will acknowledge and understand their Technology and Education. – potentially expanding our knowledge We will be the world’s largest Director-General Prof. Philip Diamond. Development Goals. culture and history; we will provide of astronomy.” observatory; we will have a truly global (Read more on Prof. Diamond’s vision Portuguese involvement in SKAO will opportunities for development and be I am always very conscious that we membership, and we should use that for the SKA Observatory on the be managed by the Portuguese Space seen as a world-class custodian of local require the support and goodwill of and our influence with our partner following pages.) Agency, Portugal Space, while ENGAGE heritage. SKA, a national radio astronomy the taxpayers in our member countries governments to ensure global radio Australia, future home of the SKA-Low Left: A certified copy of the SKA research infrastructure bringing and so we must ensure that we and astronomy remains strong. As part of With these elements of an SKAO telescope, announced its ratification Convention is held at the SKA Global together universities and industry, has our partners do all we can to inform that strategy, we will seek opportunities culture we can build an Observatory at the end of September, with Minister Headquarters. the public of the importance of to collaborate with radio astronomy and for the 21st century.

8 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 9 LET’S TALK ABOUT

“Every molecule has its own unique fingerprint, made up of a observed by SKA are needed to detect pebbles, which will collection of signals at different wavelengths - this is caused reveal the birth-sites of exoplanets. This will also give us by molecules being excited into different levels, and more clues about how our own Solar System formed.” in the cold regions it’s caused by the molecules rotating. Radio telescopes can search all these wavelengths, a bit like an old analogue radio searching for different channels. If all the wavelengths from a given molecule can be found, then DID YOU KNOW? the molecule is definitely present in space,” Izaskun explains. Even here on Earth some organisms – known as Because they are made of more atoms, COMs are larger extremophiles – can flourish in environments humans than simple molecules so they rotate slower, resulting in would consider extreme, without oxygen, under centimetre wavelengths, which lie within the frequency extremely high pressure, buried in the ice or under LET’S TALK ABOUT… ranges covered by the SKA. intense heat. One of the best known is the tardigrade, “The SKA also has the potential to become a great COM which can survive temperatures from -200 to 150°C, THE ORIGINS OF LIFE detector because, for astrochemists, centimetre wavelengths being deprived of water and oxygen, pressure six times are much ‘cleaner’ than millimetre wavelengths, which tend greater than the deepest ocean, and a host of other BY CASSANDRA CAVALLARO (SKAO) to be crowded with these smaller, simpler molecules. This, discomforts. together with the high sensitivity of the SKA, will help us to Read more in this National Geographic article. The apparent detection of phosphine in the clouds of Venus made headlines around the world in September. While the identify new prebiotic molecules in space - molecules which result is proving contentious among scientists, it turned the spotlight onto astrobiology, the study of how, when, and under have never been detected before beyond Earth.” what conditions life may form in the Universe. Finding the molecules is one thing, but for life to eventually In astronomy, observing how other worlds form and how as methanol (CH3OH). COMs are exciting for astronomers form requires a habitable home. That’s why understanding life may emerge on them is part of ‘Cradle of Life’ studies, a because they could, given the right set of conditions, lead to planet formation is crucial to Cradle of Life studies. Since the discovery of the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star in 1995 (for which Prof. Michel Mayor and Prof. Didier field that spans many specialisms. Our brief expedition into life forming. And before a planet, must come a star. As a star forms, a Queloz were awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize for Physics), this broad topic focuses on two aspects: planet formation collection of dust and gas debris is left swirling around it, “Contrary to what people might think, these molecules are studies have focused on their potential habitability, based on and the search for the building blocks of life. Let’s start with creating a protoplanetary disk. There’s still a lot that we ubiquitous in the Universe and can be found in many different whether a planet lies in a zone where water can exist in liquid those building blocks. don’t know about the process, but it’s believed that these astronomical objects, ranging from the coldest regions of form. Part of the surprise surrounding the Venus phosphine microscopic dust particles stick together, a bit like how a “Carl Sagan once said: ‘We are all made of stardust.’ And he the interstellar medium [the dust and gas that fills the spaces announcement was that, on Earth, phosphine is associated snowball becomes larger and larger, except in this case over was right,” says Dr Izaskun Jimenez-Serra of Spain’s Centre between stars], to the dusty and dense cocoons of protostars, with biological processes, but Venus is considered the course of a few million years. for Astrobiology, an expert in astrochemistry and former to harsh environments such as the centre of our galaxy,” says inhospitable in the extreme: intensely hot, smothered by chair of the SKA’s Cradle of Life Science Working Group. Izaskun. “COMs have been detected even in distant galaxies Radio telescopes can watch the process unfold by detecting an atmosphere of mainly carbon dioxide and with clouds “Not only do the atoms that form our body come from old as far as seven billion light years away from us. This is exciting the signals emitted by these dust grains; smaller grains of sulphuric acid thrown in for good measure. If life were stars; we currently believe that some organic compounds because it tells us that chemistry, and in particular complex emit shorter wavelengths, and larger grains emit longer to be found there, it would radically change our definition key for the metabolism and biochemical processes in living organic chemistry, starts early on in the Universe.” wavelengths, making this a great example of multi- of hospitable, and of where life can emerge, but further organisms could also have come from outer space, because Some of these COMs are “prebiotic” – precursors to those wavelength astronomy and the complementarity of different studies will be required to test and understand the results they are known to form in interstellar space and they have which may have led to life. Among them are the molecular telescopes. before making that jump. The team behind the results have been found in precursors to RNA, a similar molecule to the well-known themselves downplayed them since, due to questions over meteorites.” The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) the data processing methods used. DNA (which carries the genetic information of every living in Chile has made huge advances in this field in recent years We’re talking here organism). In fact, here on Earth some viruses, including by observing millimetre-sized dust grains as they begin to Irrespective of what’s happening on Venus, the Universe about detecting COVID-19, replicate through RNA. coalesce. ALMA has been able to pinpoint for the first time a holds many more secrets on the origins of life, and the SKA molecules in space. One theory which emerged in the 1960s (and is still location where a young planet is being born, provided high- is ideally placed to reveal them. Molecules are resolution images of disks to identify commonalities and being debated) sees RNA as the driving force behind the “The formation of planets and the viability of complex, made of atoms – differences between them, and in 2014 released a stunning beginnings of life on Earth millions of years ago. It’s thought prebiotic molecules, during their formation are two exciting oxygen has two image of the disk around a young star which turned existing these prebiotic molecules could have become incorporated areas where observations at centimetre wavelengths with (O2), water has thinking on its head. into comets and meteorites which intensively struck the the SKA will be crucial for significant advances in our three (H2O). What Earth around four ago, Izaskun says. understanding,” Tyler adds. “Locating the formation sites of astronomers look The detailed image of the disk around HL Tauri, a million- future planets, and understanding the evolution of complex for are “complex Of course, molecules are tiny, and most of the regions where year-old star (a relative baby in star terms), suggested the molecules in these environments, are key to understanding organic molecules” we study them are thousands of light years away. Luckily, early stages of planet formation were already under way. how Earth formed, and the likelihood of life arising on other (COMs), carbon- the natural emission from COMs in the cold reaches of outer Until then, it was thought the process was much slower, so planets.” based compounds space is of low energy, placing them in the radio band of the wouldn’t be visible in such young star systems. made of at least electromagnetic spectrum, making radio telescopes uniquely While ALMA deals with millimetre wavelengths, the SKA will ALMA’s high- six atoms, such placed to detect them. step in to fill the current gap in our knowledge of the next resolution step in the process, observing larger pebbles in the disk. A image of the The complex organic molecule hydroxylamine (NH2OH, in the image) and urea (NH2CONH2) were among those recently recent paper, co-authored by members of the SKA Cradle of detected in the interstellar medium. These prebiotic molecules could have been part of the process that led to life on Earth protoplanetary Life Science Working Group, showed that it will also make a disk surrounding within theories of a primordial RNA-world. Credit: Nasa Spitzer Space Telescope, camera IRAC4 (8 micron) / Ben Mills / clearer picture of the rings that newly forming planets carve PinClipart.com / Víctor M. Rivilla the young star HL in protoplanetary disks, like an ice-breaker clearing a path Tauri, released in through the sea. 2014. It revealed “With the SKA it will be uniquely possible to witness this previously unseen EVERY MOLECULE HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE FINGERPRINT, phase of planet assembly by observing at exactly those radio substructures in wavelengths that match the size of coalescing particles, from the disk, and gaps MADE UP OF A COLLECTION OF SIGNALS AT DIFFERENT centimetre scales to metres; and with sufficient resolution which could be the WAVELENGTHS. RADIO TELESCOPES CAN SEARCH ALL to watch the growth of planets in the habitable zone around result of planets THESE WAVELENGTHS, A BIT LIKE AN OLD ANALOGUE their parent stars,” says Dr Tyler Bourke, SKA Project forming. Scientist and a co-author on the paper. Credit: ALMA RADIO SEARCHING FOR DIFFERENT CHANNELS. (ESO/NAOJ/ “ALMA has revealed amazing structure in disks but is not NRAO) Dr Izaskun Jimenez-Serra sensitive to objects bigger than dust; the longer wavelengths

10 11 FE AT URED IM AGE

GOODBYE TO ARECIBO

For more than 50 years, Arecibo It was a sad end for a facility with such Contact (a particular favourite of many explored the cosmos from Puerto an impressive scientific legacy. Among radio astronomers). It also helped Rico, making countless discoveries its list of achievements, Arecibo to inspire many young scientists, as and inspiring great affection from the was used to discover the first binary became clear when news of its planned astronomical community. Sadly, 2020 pulsar system, a major breakthrough decommissioning sparked a flood of marked the end of the road for this supporting Einstein’s theory on the reactions on Twitter under the hashtag giant of radio astronomy. existence of gravitational waves, which #WhatAreciboMeansToMe. went on to be awarded the Nobel Prize First came the breakage of two of the “A giant has fallen,” says SKA Director- for Physics in 1993. The telescope is cables supporting Arecibo’s 900 tonne General Prof. Philip Diamond. “It is also credited with the first discovery instrument platform, which housed the very sad to see a superb facility bow of an exoplanet orbiting a millisecond telescope’s receivers above that iconic out in this way. This will be a difficult pulsar in 1992, and the first detection 305m dish. The damage was extensive time for the Arecibo staff, our thoughts of a repeating in 2016. enough for the US National Science are with them.” These are all areas of science that Foundation, which operated Arecibo, the SKA will probe further, so as a to announce that the telescope would pathfinder Arecibo really did pave the be decommissioned, as it was deemed way for the next generation of facilities. too dangerous to attempt repairs. Less than two weeks later, on 1 December, In-between all the science, Arecibo the instrument platform came crashing also made appearances on the silver down too, completely destroying the screen, featuring in the James Bond All images credited to . film GoldenEye, and the sci-fi movie Observatory and NAIC.

12 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 13 HQ CORNER

2 MINUTES WITH... DR SHEILA KANANI KEEPING OUTREACH & DIVERSITY OFFICER, ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL TEAM SPIRIT SOCIETY (RAS) ALIVE IN Dr Sheila Kanani recently gave a Speaker Series talk to SKA HQ staff on equality, diversity and inclusion THE TIME OF (EDI) issues. The event was organised by SKAO’s newly revamped EDI Working Group on the back of COVID-19 Black History Month, marked each October in the UK. SKAO HQ staff, like many of our colleagues around the world, have spent much of this year working from home. This brings challenges for everyone regardless of their personal circumstances, and many miss the camaraderie of our office environment: running into people in the corridors, chatting over coffee or sharing sweet treats to mark birthdays. In NIGERIA’S recent months SKAO’s Recreation Committee and others MARKING have organised a series of events to recreate that friendly, FIRST RADIO Credit: Sheila Kanani inclusive atmosphere virtually for staff and their families. BLACK In September, the committee organised the annual ASTRONOMER Tell us about your role as Diversity Officer. Macmillan Coffee Morning in aid of the UK charity HISTORY ADAPTED FROM ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS, Each day is different – one day I might be writing a report Macmillan Cancer Support, raising more than £2,000 VOLUME 61, ISSUE 5, OCTOBER 2020 based on some survey findings, the next I might be in donations. Traditionally a great occasion to gather together over hot drinks and cake, this year’s virtual event MONTH delivering a careers session to 12-year-old Black, Asian Samuel Ejikeme Okoye (1939–2009) was had an added competitive edge, with staff voting for their and Minority Ethnic (BAME) girls in an area with high Equality, diversity & inclusion (EDI) is one of SKAO’s core the first Black African astronomer to favourite creations rather than eating them. The winner was socio-economic deprivation! Together with my colleagues values. With international staff from 20+ countries at the achieve a PhD in radio astronomy. He a cupcake topped with an SKA dish! I also run surveys and analyse data to work out what we SKA HQ it’s essential that everyone feels welcome, valued, did so at the University of Cambridge in need to focus on, and pick diversity themes each year. The following month brought the spooky celebration and that we fully represent and celebrate the diversity of 1965, at the time when radio astronomy Why is it important for societies like the RAS and of Halloween, and the creative challenge of a pumpkin people behind this global project. was beginning to reveal the high- indeed research institutions to talk about EDI? carving contest for staff and their families. For many it energy universe. He went on to play a was their first attempt at this annual tradition – an ideal During Black History Month (BHM), which takes place every major part in establishing astronomy in Learned societies have a really positive part to play in EDI. opportunity to ‘upskill’ during the pandemic. There was October in the UK, SKAO took the opportunity to highlight Nigeria as both a discipline in itself and Other organisations and universities can look to us for once again a space-themed victor: a pumpkin carved with Black voices in radio astronomy, and talked to members to drive development. advice and we would also hope to provide a voice for the a ringed planet, stars and a rocket! of Team SKA about the importance of EDI efforts and minorities who might not ‘fit in’ elsewhere. For changes to training within the workplace. With its global partnership But when Okoye started his career, happen in EDI we need a ‘top down’ approach with buy- December in the UK brings icy temperatures and darker and sites in South Africa and outback Western Australia, the politicians and officials in his native in from heads of departments and leaders in the field, evenings, making it perfect for the silliest fundraiser in the SKA is in a unique position among large-scale astronomy Nigeria believed that astronomy was rather than the onus being on the individual. calendar, marked by workplaces, schools and community projects to focus on stories that have traditionally been an esoteric topic of little practical use groups nationwide: Christmas Jumper Day. For a third under-represented in our field. As well as hearing personal (Okoye 1990). His sustained efforts to Where do global research projects like the SKA fit into year, SKAO staff dug out their cosy knitwear embellished experiences in a feature on the SKA website, SKAO’s bring astronomy to Nigeria throughout this conversation? with reindeer, Santa Claus and other festive motifs to raise EDI Working Group arranged a talk for SKA staff by Dr his career were repeatedly frustrated Sam Okoye at the 17th IAU I think global projects are really exciting with regards to money for the international charity Save the Children, Sheila Kanani (see opposite), Diversity Officer at the Royal by lack of funding and practical General Assembly in Montreal, EDI. We can get stuck in our bubbles, including in EDI, which carries out life-saving work in more than 100 Astronomical Society, outlining recent progress in this area support, but eventually, his employer Canada, in 1979. Credit: AIP and forget what is actually out there! The issues and countries. and discussing the challenges ahead, and shared Dr Samuel the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Okoye’s remarkable story (see summary on the right). John Irwin Slide Collection challenges in EDI in the UK might be completely different 2020 has kept many of us apart, but these small events started teaching astronomy and space to those in other countries. By sharing what we’ve learned as part of its undergraduate physics course; masters and remind us that we are all part of the bigger SKA family, and Marking BHM is part of a broader effort by the SKA and what we’re doing, we can all help each other improve. doctoral students followed. Nigeria developed a small space that our sense of community still exists remotely and is very Organisation’s EDI Working Group to ensure that our programme, launching its first satellite in 1996. The Space What would you say to someone reading this who much alive. values of equality and diversity are promoted, respected, Research Centre at UNN which he founded was the forerunner might be thinking “what can I do?” and backed by meaningful action at every opportunity. of today’s Centre for Basic Space Research (CBSS) which As SKA Director-General Prof. Philip Diamond said in a If you’re an individual, look for “quick wins” so it doesn’t opened in 2001, part of the National Space and Development statement on racism and discrimination in June: “Just feel too overwhelming. Things like including your Agency set up by the Nigerian government in 1999. writing these principles down is not enough, meaningful pronouns in your email signature, joining a diversity action is required, by me, by our team leaders and by all of committee, becoming a diversity champion at work, or Sam Okoye may have been the first Nigerian radio astronomer, SK AO’s staff.” taking courses like ‘mental health first aider’ training. but he was certainly not the last. His vision for astronomy as The SKA If you organise events, be mindful of who you invite to an end in itself and as a tool for development – in Nigeria and bake off for speak - no more ‘manels’ please! If you are on an awards elsewhere – is finally being realized. Radio astronomy is taking Macmillan committee make sure the application process is open root across the continent, not least in South Africa, home to the Coffee Morning for people from all walks of life, and think about who SKA’s dishes. The UK-led Development in Africa through Radio was won by you celebrate and use as role models for your field. And Astronomy (DARA; dara-project.org) is aiming to produce a Operations don’t forget about accessibility. This year, because of the technologically savvy workforce through radio astronomy. And Scientist Dr pandemic, we’ve taken a lot of our work online, but that now Nsukka is the home of the West African regional centre Shari Breen with brings specific accessibility challenges, and we’ve also of the IAU’s Office of Astronomy for Development, setting the her SKA dish tried not to forget those who don’t have access to the seal on this remarkable turnaround in attitudes to astronomy. cupcakes! internet or a laptop. Read Dr Okoye’s full profile here.

14 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 15 HQ CORNER

SKAO PROCUREMENT TWO YEARS OF PREPARATIONS RAMPING UP AGILE SOFTWARE BY ANDREA CASSON AND MAURIZIO MICCOLIS (SKAO) DEVELOPMENT AT SKA One of the main activities for the project next year, based on our expected timeline of SKA construction starting on 1 July 2021, will be preparing, awarding and kicking-off the first half of the over 50 contracts needed to build the SKA. BY DR JUANDE SANTANDER-VELA (SKAO)

This activity is being led by the Member Industrial Liaison Officers It will also be an opportunity to assess It is already two years since we started our software development journey with the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) Programmes team, but involves (ILOs) - our network of professionals readiness for contracting across the with our first Program Increment (PI) planning, PI1. practically every business unit within acting as the interface between in- organisation as a whole, looking at our SKAO and of course all Members country industry and SKAO - to support funding, staffing, processes, tools and In software development, agile practices approach The event was again a who have been allocated contract their preparation and is actively being training and so involve Strategy, HR, IT, discovering requirements and developing solutions through success: we planned the DID YOU work by the Council Preparatory Task updated by the project management Finance and Communications as well as the collaborative effort of self-organising and cross-functional work for the execution of Force (CPTF). Our draft procurement team. the other teams already mentioned. An teams and their customer/end user. more than 129 Features! KNOW? schedule, covering preparation and update of the procurement schedule Before that, the work A lot of preparatory work has already In that first PI planning we had 55 people distributed across Hackathons (for review of the contract document will again be shared with ILOs by the planned for PI8 was happened this year with the writing five agile teams plus the SKAO software management and packs and running the Invitation to end of January 2021, by which time completed to our strict hacking marathon) of more than 20 Outline Procurement engineering teams, which were able to develop 15 Features Tender (ITT) processes and associated we will have received refinement definition of “Done”, and are design sprint- Plans each dealing with different parts (that’s what we call the chunks of work and functionality that governance, has been shared with through the CPTF on the cash/in-kind resulted in the release of like events in of the telescopes. The selection of we can develop in three months). distributions across SKA1; consolidated 95% of the expected value which computer NEC4 as the contract form meant that the outcomes of the Progress Review; In early December we held PI9, which hosted 167 people - that is, we accomplished programmers and all the project managers (who will run received returns from our Software across 17 agile teams from across the SKA partnership, now 95% of our objectives. the construction contracts) and most of software developers Request for Information; and of course divided across two main parallel delivery tracks (what we call Note that we have been the engineers in the Programmes team collaborate on we hope that the Council will have Agile Release Trains in SAFe parlance), plus one shared- over 80% of value release participated in training alongside (well, specific projects, met for the first time. Taken together services group that provides engineering and computing since PI2, which is unheard at least on Zoom) delegates from the the goal being to these events should mean that many support to teams across the two. This partitioning is required of in non-agile software Mission Assurance, Procurement, of our assumptions will have been so that we can actually make sense of the planning! development for research create functioning Legal and Operations teams. validated, or at least clarified, and thus infrastructures! This is a software by the We’ve also been getting to allow us to provide more certainty on good demonstration of end of the event. grips with the Contract Event the procurement plan. In February we how increased interaction Management and Reporting will also begin the internal Contract between developers and (CEMAR) tool that will be used Readiness Reviews, carried out on users facilitated by the Agile methodology improves success to administer the contracts. every contract document pack by a and helps make a better final product. Next year will start with a cross-functional team, which gives a go/ One staple of our software development is our three weeks Progress Review, planned no go on that contract’s readiness for devoted to Innovation & Planning (I&P). While the PI9 Planning for the first half of January. procurement. In short, there is a huge meeting is undoubtedly part of the I&P, the Innovation is This will allow us to check the amount of work under way to make sure time set aside for people to work on unplanned things that contract preparations are at all the right pieces come together at the might make a difference. For PI9 we added something new: the right stage in relation to the right time, and with construction only participation in the AstroPy hackathon. Jointly organised by construction schedule. months away, it now all feels very real. SKAO and the AstroPy collaboration (a community developing Python software for use by astronomers), this hackathon allowed people to devote two days to look at bugs in the Left: More than 50 SKAO staff have AstroPy codebase and fix them, collaborating with them using undertaken NEC4 contract training THE PROCUREMENT their mature processes. That way we get contributors to the this year, with the whole SKAO Project PROCESS SKA-wide project to be exposed to those mature processes Management Group taking advanced — which have inspired our own — and also contribute back to training. SKAO Project Managers, Step 1: An internal Contract Readiness an Open Source project such as AstroPy. David Solan and Ben Lewis are now Reviews (CRR) is carried out by a cross- fully accredited and others will follow. functional team, giving a go/no go on a We are incredibly happy for — and somewhat incredulous contract’s readiness for procurement. of — the level of success that these two years of software Step 2: A contract that is going to development for the SKA have brought, which has allowed competition enters procurement us to progress work at pace by co-opting resources and PLACING OVER €800 MILLION OF CONSTRUCTION at the market survey stage in the expertise where they are in the SKA community without CONTRACTS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS allocated Member country. recruiting hundreds of software developers! And this is thanks BOTH EXTREMELY CHALLENGING AND HUGELY Step 3: Pre-qualification and invitation to our amazing teams and all the people that make everything EXCITING. WE HAVE BEEN GEARING UP FOR to tender (ITT) stages (all contracts). work like clockwork. We sure hope to be ready for PI11, which Step 4: The Technical Evaluation Panel is when SKA construction will begin in earnest! THIS MOMENT FOR MANY YEARS AND, HAVING drafts an award recommendation RECENTLY TRAINED MORE STAFF IN NEC4 for the Finance Committee (Tender CONTRACTS AND RECRUITING EXPERIENCED sub-committee) who reviews and formally recommends approval Some of the 167 people working on SKA software at PI9: PEOPLE IN THIS AREA, WE ARE IN A STRONG to the SKA Director-General. Observations, Management & Controls train on the top, POSITION. I’M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO 2021! Step 5: Following Director-General Data Processing on the bottom. approval, the contract can be awarded. Andrea Casson, Head of Project Management Group

16 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 17 INSIGHT

by the observatory, and finally, onto the massive data processing needed to make sense of those Going Agile observations. By now you’ve probably heard that the SKA is “agile” in its During this phase, it was critical to ensure a smooth software development approach. But what does that mean and continuous interaction between all engineering exactly? Agile practices consist of discovering requirements and consortia as well to understand interfaces between developing solutions through a collaborative effort between hardware — antennas, cables, computing boards — self-organising, cross-functional teams and the end user, in and software. Overall, more than a hundred experts the SKA’s case: the science community (Read more in our from more than a dozen countries were involved in article on their latest meeting on page 17). To do that, Agile laying the foundations of the SKA’s software. methodologies are based around a number of core principles: That gargantuan effort required input from three • User experience. Why do software projects fail? Ray separate engineering consortia: Brederode, who manages our Agile approach, explains “there can be too much focus on functional requirements that are set • the Telescope Manager (TM) in charge of the in stone, and not enough on providing actual value to users”. telescopes’ control systems, led by India’s National In Agile methodologies, incorporating the experience of Centre for Radio Astrophysics; users into the development and checking the performance of • the Central Signal Processor (CSP), also called the the system is key. ”Working software” is at the heart of it. The central processing brain of the telescope, led by SKA Data Challenges will help in that process for example. DELIVERING A ‘SOFTWARE Canada’s National Research Council; • Autonomy. Empowering decision-making at the lowest levels Above: The Program Increment #6 (PI6) meeting, is also important: a decision on a subsystem that doesn’t bringing together SKA’s software development • the Science Data Processor (SDP), focusing on impact the whole can be made by the developers, saving TELESCOPE’ community, took place on the outskirts of Perth the design of the computing hardware platforms, time. “We trust our developers either to decide themselves, (Western Australia) in February 2020. software and algorithms needed to process raw BY MATHIEU ISIDRO AND THE SOFTWARE TEAM (SKAO) science data and turn them into science data or to raise important decisions that need to be taken at products, led by the UK’s Cambridge University. project level” explains Ray. In a global project like the SKA As the SKA Organisation prepares to wind down ahead of the start of construction activities in the middle of next year, we sitting across 21 timezones, it’s key to avoid bottlenecks and look back to some of the key challenges faced by the organisation and the designs it developed to tackle them. Among “Though software is finally lines of code, getting it delays. them is the computing software that will enable the SKA, with its complex distributed design, to function. You’ll often hear to do what it is meant to do (and do it well), requires people in the SKA world say the SKA is a “software telescope” but why? Let’s find out. significant thought and planning,” explains Prof. • Alignment and communications. Alignment between the Yashwant Gupta, Director of NCRA and then TM teams is very important, and requires communication. Weekly “Many features of the SKA will only be possible through streams — but also a lot of ingenuity from SKA developers. Consortium Lead. “Many diverse requirements and meetings ensure synchronization and alignment to enable software,” explains Dr Juande Santander-Vela, Lead varied scenarios needed to be catered for for TM, in sound distributed decision-making. Software will also be essential for us to check that every addition to ensuring features like very high uptime, Software Product Manager at SKAO. • Cadence. All the teams work to a common two-week rhythm, system is ticking along, to check that nothing is broken, and scalability to large numbers of elements, etc.” That’s exemplified by SKA-Low, SKAO’s low frequency isolate what is so that it does not affect the whole telescope. called a sprint. They deliver something valuable at least every telescope to be built in Western Australia. The telescope “Developing software for CSP has required working sprint. Evaluating progress becomes easier and more regular, “Software will also be required to create, receive, assess, will collect the signals from 131,072 antennas, each of them on two distinct kinds of software because of different and feedback is integrated at least every two weeks instead rank, and select successful science proposals from the receiving signals from all over the sky. “But it is thanks computing platforms, so it represents a significant of at major gateway review points. Every five working sprints, thousands that we expect to receive from the community to powerful software that we will combine those signals proportion of the overall CSP development work,” there’s an Innovation & Planning sprint to reflect on what for each observation cycle” adds Dr Antonio Chrysostomou, into coherent pointings that actually become sensitive to explains Grant Hampson, Research Engineer at CSIRO has been done and what needs to be done next. That’s for Head of Science Operations at SKAO. individual, finely pointed portions of the sky,” continues and member of the consortium at the time. “CSP the ‘planning’ part. What about the ‘innovation’ part? “Our Juande. faces many software challenges, a key one being developers get to choose something to work on for around adaptability to implement a multitude of configurations. two weeks to decompress,” explains Ray. “And what they At the same time, we will be transforming petabits of data DID YOU KNOW? The software’s knitted together with many interfaces tend to work on are things that are in the end beneficial for per second into just terabits (1,000 times less) per second, The SKA will be able to spot differences in arrival for which CSP has pioneered the development of them as developers, to their team, or even to all teams!” a more ‘manageable’ quantity, so to speak. “That cannot time between its different antennas measured in dedicated facilities to enable integration testing.” Those sprints then combine into a Program Increment (PI), be done with analog circuits: only digital, software-enabled nanoseconds, or a few thousand-millionth of a second. These years of work were validated in 2019 when TM, and every 13 weeks there’s a PI Planning event in which all circuitry enables us to do that,” he adds. To understand how the SKA will do that, watch this developers and stakeholders take part to plan the next period. 2min explainer video from ASTRON. SDP and CSP successfully passed their Critical Design Even after all that processing, to get the beams of data from Reviews (CDRs) — the final step in the design of an What about SAFe? The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) is one the individual antennas of each telescope, we’ll need to engineering system. In order to probe the architectures of many Agile methodologies that can help scaling up to the correlate those beams to spot the tiny differences in arrival of the systems, the TM and SDP teams used a process size of projects like the SKA. “We chose this one because it’s time of the signals at each antenna so that we can start called Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) followed by a lot of practitioners across all the SKA countries” imaging the sky. both at the element CDR stage and also at the final explains Ray “There are also courses and certifications The resulting amount of scientific data that will need to available that help us make sure everyone is speaking the same be processed is enormous, in the order of 50 petabytes a language.” day, or 100,000 average laptops worth of storage! To do LINES OF CODE ARE REALLY LIKE BRICKS SAFe has designed a specific hierarchy of development and that, we’ll need the processing power of what was the most WHEN BUILDING A HOUSE, AND JUST decision-making processes to ensure many teams across the powerful supercomputer in the world in 2019. And we’ll need AS WITH A HOUSE, YOU NEED GREAT globe can deliver in a coordinated manner. The hierarchy two of them, one for each telescope. Luckily for us, we don’t starts with teams of three to nine people. Currently we have 17 need them until 2028. ARCHITECTURE IF IT’S GOING TO WORK. Seven years of design THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE DESIGN teams from 20 different institutions within the SKA’s software But we can’t just order an off-the-shelf world-beating development, representing more than 160 people. Each team So where does the SKA Organisation and the pre- SPECIFIES HOW THE SYSTEM WILL supercomputer. The processing we need to do is too contributes to a specific workflow called an Agile Release Train construction phase fit into this story? You’d be forgiven for WORK, THE COMPONENTS THAT WILL complex. Instead, we are writing all of the software code (ART), focused on providing a particular kind of value. We’ve thinking that we must have already built all this software BE PART OF THE SYSTEM AND HOW ALL needed to orchestrate the ingest and further processing of got two ARTs within SKA, one for Science Data Handling and in the last seven years. Actually, on the software side of data ourselves, while making sure that we can process it all THE PARTS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH Processing and one for Observation Management and Controls. things, rather than writing lines of code, the focus of the in a timely manner and with a limited amount of power... talk OTHER. OF COURSE YOU ALSO HAVE And finally, ARTs contribute to a Solution Train, facilitated by a detailed design phase from 2013 until 2019 was to provide about a challenge! TO PROVE THE ARCHITECTURE DOES Solution Train Engineer: Ray. In our case, that train is all of the “architectural blueprints”. These blueprints govern how to THE JOB AND THIS IS DONE THROUGH SKA software that enables both telescopes and the observatory We’ll need to make use of the best tools from the Big Data control the telescopes and their subsystems, but also how PROTOTYPING AND ANALYSIS. to function. toolbox, such as Apache Kafka — an extremely performant to handle observation proposals throughout their lifecycle open-source software package for processing big data until the final building blocks of observations conducted Prof. Paul Alexander, Head of Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge and 18 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 then SDP Consortium Lead 19 INSIGHT system CDR to test them in an integrated way. required performance and adapt our architecture as needed if necessary,” explains Marco. “ATAM is a risk-mitigation process” explains Marco Bartolini, SKAO Lead Software Architect. “It helps choose a suitable The third challenge is that the software is being written to architecture for a software system by discovering trade-offs exploit the commonality of needs between both telescopes and sensitivity points and works best when used early, when so that the exact same software runs on both of them, but is the cost of changing is low.” configured to understand its environment and adapt itself. “But if there’s any delays or hiccups with the deployment These CDRs involved independent panels of external experts, of one of the telescopes, that could throw us off track,” as was the case for all SKA design consortia. “That was quite adds Marco. To avoid that, the software is being built with important, as that evaluation gave us confidence that we were configurability and modularity in mind. on the right track with those architectural designs,” continues Marco. From software to science Bridging the gap between The goal of all of this effort is, of course, to enable the SKA design and construction science goals: the ultimate customers of this software will be the Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators that will use As they are meant to do, the reviews highlighted some risks. telescope time and archived data to do amazing science. None of these were new, but it was important for the software team that they be recorded and prioritised. Since 2019, SKAO “The SKA project is just so inspiring,” beams Juande. “We has been in a “bridging phase” ahead of construction. In want to probe into the history of the Universe; we want to see terms of software, that provides an opportunity for the team what galaxies were like when they were very young; we want to go through the most important risks and either plan or to essentially find all the pulsars in our own galaxy —and even implement mitigations. use them to indirectly detect some gravitational waves!—; we TROUBLE IN THE SKIES? want to learn about the formation of life-enabling molecules… But there are also many other invisible activities going on Everyone is thrilled to work for a project like this!” BY MATHIEU ISIDRO (SKAO) behind the scenes to keep the whole software development process well oiled. “Under the hood, we’re looking at the Speaking about SKAO’s software development process, Nick Satellite ”mega-constellations” have been making headlines for the past year with widespread development environments for our programmers, we’re Rees, SKAO’s head of computing and software concludes: concern in the scientific community about their potential impact on astronomy. A couple of looking at testing, especially testing the whole system end- “We’ve developed a distributed, egalitarian, inclusive global months ago, SKAO released its own preliminary analysis of the potential impact of current to-end before deploying it in real hardware,” explains Juande. culture, with clear messages so that everyone is aligned, satellite mega-constellations on its telescopes. We sat down with our Radio Frequency “All of this helps reduce the risk of things not working when where every opinion is heard, and people have autonomy to Interference (RFI) Domain Specialist Federico Di Vruno for a deep dive into the issues for the we deploy them.” fix things. What is not to like about that?” SKA telescopes and what we’re doing about it. What happens next? Tell us about this analysis and about the work we’ve been “zooming past” in low- doing on this issue. earth orbit, single antenna In the short term, SKAO is making sure its software, which radio observations will find it THE BROADER IMPACT OF SOFTWARE We’ve spent a good part of the last 18 months producing is working in simulated hardware for now, is deployed at increasingly difficult to not have a study of the potential impact of these constellations on Prototype System Integration (PSI) facilities. These facilities, Developing software for the SKA might seem very a satellite in their field of view. [...] like the Low PSI in Sydney (read our feature in Contact #3), the SKA dishes in South Africa, which cover a very wide bring real SKA hardware and software together in a controlled niche, but it isn’t just a one way street that will frequency range, including the frequency bands that the environment before deployment on site, and the Integration benefit the community of astrophysicists. Many SKA satellite constellations will use. We developed a complex Right: Federico Di Vruno – SKAO Radio Test Facilities will also fulfil a similar purpose. countries have been keen to get involved because model, with a simulation based on many variables, namely Frequency Interference Domain Specialist they see the potential for their knowledge industry the characteristics of the satellites’ orbits (altitude, speed, Grant Hampson leads the team that built the Low PSI. In a trajectory, etc.) based on publicly available information and in an increasingly competitive landscape, in terms previous interview, he explained “We’re going into this next some proprietary data provided by the operators, the number DID YOU KNOW? phase of bridging to try and de-risk some of those interfaces of upskilling, developing new IP, diversifying their of satellites (6,400 of them in the first instance), the number of and some of the test infrastructure needed to do that.” activities and opening new market opportunities. SKA dishes and where they’re likely to be pointing to at any Under international regulations established by the given moment. “It allows us to make sure we don’t break anything when we “SDP technologies will eventually, probably via the SKA International Telecommunications Union (ITU) – install our software!” summarises Juande. Regional Centres, find their way into the broader scientific So what will the impact be? the UN agency tasked with regulating the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits – the 10.7 to In the longer term, SKAO’s software team, in consultation with community for analysing very large-volume, large-velocity The satellites will transmit within the frequency range each telescope’s Delivery Team, is developing a roadmap for data problems,” explains Paul Alexander. “Many of the covered by our Band 5b receivers [8 - 15 GHz] on the SKA 12.7 GHz frequency band is prioritised for satellite software deployment on site. Each telescope roll-out plan most challenging data problems in society are in the dishes, so without mitigation, there is likely to be an impact communication. A number of narrow frequency includes software, with five important testing points that are on all observations in that band, and in particular a loss of bands were assigned to radio astronomy many called Array Assemblies (AAs). There’s an early AA0.5, then medical and healthcare areas and already some of the sensitivity in the frequency range used by these satellites to years ago, but science has moved on since then. To AA1 to AA4. The capabilities of the software are selected so SKA technologies are used in these areas. It won’t be communicate with the ground – that’s 10.7 to 12.7 GHz. That detect the extremely faint radio signals and to take that they can support the right mixture of functionality which highly visible to the public, but there is real potential for would lead to observations in that range taking about 70% will be the focus of AIV for each AA. the SKA to have a long term societal impact because we longer, which in the end means fewer observations and an advantage of modern systems, radio telescopes It’s an ambitious roadmap with a number of challenges, worked out how to tackle a really large big-data problem.” impact on science. Just think of it like suddenly seeing bright need to go beyond the bands historically allocated starting with a compressed schedule. “For software, we’ve lights at night, they reduce your ability to see what’s around to radio astronomy. In the case of the SKA-Mid got about 18 months from the start of construction activities “Given the scale at which things have to be done to you and you need more time to adjust, that is if you can adjust telescope, observations will observe from 350 MHz to be ready for AA0.5,” says Juande. “We have to provide our deliver the SKA, industry participation has been essential,” at all. That’s the case with a of a few thousand up to over 15 GHz. This is possible thanks to the satellites, but there are plans for up to 100,000 satellites in telescope operators, and those checking the Array Integration adds Yashwant Gupta. “This is why we brought in establishment of National Radio Quiet Zones (RQZs) and Verification (AIV) tasks, the right software well before the orbit. If that were the case, we’d lose the band completely. some of the best talent available in the Indian software in the two SKA telescope host countries protecting actual start of the integration and verification of AA0.5.” There have been satellites in orbit for many years, why is industry. As a result, not only did a large workforce get the sites from ground-based interference... this a problem now? The second challenge the software team faces is that data trained, but some of those individuals have now become but not from aerial and space-based ones. rates (number of bytes per second) and data processing rates experts in this area of work. It’s a great win-win for the This isn’t new and existing satellites also use that frequency (number of computing operations per second) become very range which is standard for telecommunications. But we’re challenging by AA3, when there should be 256 Low stations SKA, for us at NCRA, and for Indian industry partners now talking about more than doubling the total number Above: A simulation shows how a 4,425-satellite constellation in Australia and 133 dishes in South Africa. “We’ll need to keen to play a significant role in SKA and in similar of satellites in orbit since the beginning of the space age could be deployed for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet check that our software is efficient, and can cope with those highly-competitive highly-skilled environments.” in just a few years. With increasing numbers of satellites service. (Mark Handley / University College London) data rates early on, so that we can revise how to achieve the

20 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 21 Tell us more about that science impact. beam. Satellites in low orbit move very fast and the beam of our antennas is so small that we would see a “very bright” I’m not an expert in this but our science team has been signal for a few seconds while the satellite goes through the involved in assessing what that means in terms of science and main beam. The SKA’s Telescope Manager software team is it’s particularly problematic for studies of complex organic led by India’s National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), molecules in our galaxy whose radio signature happens to which runs GMRT, and they’re already looking at that. fall in that frequency range (read our Let’s talk about article on page 10). These molecules are the building blocks of life Would it damage our equipment if a dish and satellite as we know it, so if we cannot study them properly, it’ll make point at each other? identifying the origins of life beyond Earth that much harder. The ITU has imposed a power limit that satellites need to Could the satellites affect the rest of the receiver’s band comply with in order to avoid interfering with other services too? in the same range. The case of beam-to-beam (or direct illumination) was the first calculation we did (quite a simple Possibly. This will depend on what we call the RFI-to-Signal one) and proved that there is a big safety margin to reach ratio. The best thing that can happen is the power received damage levels. What this means is even if a satellite and a dish from all the visible satellites in that range (the RFI) is low are pointing at each other, it won’t damage our equipment, compared to the overall power we receive in the band 5b which is a relief! Back to eyesight, direct coupling is the receiver (our intended signal). If that happens, depending on equivalent of staring at the sun without protection which the type of observation, there are many techniques that can would burn your retina and result in permanent damage to be applied to minimise the effect of this RFI. But if the total your “instrument”, the eye… But that’s as far as the analogy power from satellites is too high, it’ll overwhelm the band 5b goes, and it won’t happen in our case. receiver and we’ll lose the rest of the data between 8 and 15 GHz… that’s a worry. To go back to my eyesight example, So are there any mitigation solutions possible? this would be like being blinded by a flash, resulting in you Yes, there are options and we are actively looking at them momentarily losing all vision or all “data”. We don’t expect with satellite operators. One option is to avoid directing that to happen often, but certainly the more satellites there the satellite beams at the telescope site. Steerable beam will be in orbit, the more risk there is of that happening. satellites can do that. It’s worth noting that the commercial Why is it unlikely to happen? incentive for operators to point their satellite beams towards the South African SKA site is already significantly limited, The area of the sky a dish will observe is just 0.2 degrees with the Radio Quiet Zone legislation regulating the licensing across, that’s a tiny part of the sky. The probability of a and roll out of the necessary ground-based infrastructure for satellite being there at the same time and pointing its antenna satellite operators to service users in the area around the site. at us is very small, even with 6,400 additional satellites in orbit. Additionally, satellite operators already use this technique And if a satellite is pointing at a dish but is pointing United States radio spectrum frequency allocations chart as of January 2016 from 0 kHz to 300 GHz. to comply with international regulations when their satellites elsewhere, the power level can be a million times lower. The narrow yellow bands are allocated to radio astronomy. Credit: US Department of Commerce cross the path between geostationary satellites in higher orbit However, the cumulative effect of many satellites pointing and their receiving ground stations, for example to avoid “in the wrong direction at the wrong time” could swamp affecting telecommunications and TV transmissions, so it is our band 5b receivers. That would certainly be the case with So, what’s your take-away message? constructively with operators to educate them about our technically possible. concerns and have mature conversations about possible 100,000 satellites up there. Let’s not panic. Yes, satellite mega-constellations are a mitigation, and we’ve been doing that quite successfully over What would be the effect of this mitigation? concern but they affect a limited portion of the frequency One interesting thing we’re considering doing to minimise this the last 18 months or so. risk is use a database of the satellites’ orbits in our software We expect it would reduce the impact on the SKA by a factor range we’ll be observing. Also, from preliminary results, it to make sure we schedule observations away from their path. of 10, so instead of observations in that range taking 70% looks like we will not be “blinded” for a large fraction of the We need to recognise that these constellations will operate India’s GMRT telescope, an SKA precursor facility, is already more time, they would “only” take 7% more time. All loss time, which means that only a fraction of the band 5b will be within their ITU allocations, even if that means an impact on doing this and we are planning on building on that expertise. of sensitivity in the frequency range is unfortunate but we impacted in principle and there is scope for mitigations from our operations. Unfortunately, the radio spectrum is finite Of course, there’ll be a lot more satellites to deal with so it understand that the radio spectrum is a scarce resource that the operators, if they agree to implement them. Of course, and with increasing levels of technology in our everyday may not be possible to point away at all times, but we would has to be shared among many applications. this only holds if the number of satellites remains reasonable; lives, there is fierce competition from all sectors of the at least know when a satellite is expected to pass over our if there are 100,000 or more satellites in the sky operating economy to squeeze every bit of it. The SKA has taken a You mentioned we’re focusing on the dishes. What about without further corrective measures, then the situation decision to engage directly with industry to find possible the impact on low frequencies? becomes much more difficult for radio astronomy. mitigation techniques, and so far that’s proven constructive. We’ll continue those conversations and hope to come to a Right now we’re focusing on higher frequencies because these There’s also more awareness and coordination at the compromise that protects our interests and theirs. would be the most directly impacted, where the signal is international level. We are speaking with other organisations stronger because that’s the one satellites emit in. But it’s been like the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the demonstrated that radio signals emitted from the ground European Southern Observatory, the European Space can bounce off airplanes so in theory they could also bounce Agency, the European Astronomical Society, the Committee off satellites and impact SKA1-Low in Australia. Then again, on Radio Astronomy Frequencies of the European Science because of their size and altitude, satellites occupy a much Foundation, the International Astronomical Union and smaller surface area in the sky than a passing plane for signals others. There are also discussions within the United Nations to bounce off on, so the risk is low. Another thing to bear framework, with a recent workshop organised by the UN in mind is that all electrical equipment emits electric noise, Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) that we were invited including satellites, which can be a concern for very sensitive to take part in. The workshop led to the production of a 300- radio telescopes, especially if we are talking about thousands page document describing the impact that light and radio of satellites. pollution has not only on optical and radio astronomy but also on wildlife and sky heritage. This report will be submitted to the upcoming meeting of the UN’s COmmittee for Peaceful On November 18, 2019, a constellation of Starlink satellites Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in February, which could passed through the observing frame of the Dark Energy eventually lead to a resolution at the United Nations General Camera aboard the 4m telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter- The Karoo Astronomy Advantage Area (KAAA) was Assembly! American Observatory in Chile. Any technique used to established as part of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage subtract out these trails would hinder the ability to detect But the reality is those discussions are difficult and take Act 2007. Consisting of a polygonal area of ~500km x 300km potentially hazardous asteroids or measure variable objects. a lot of time. Those satellites are going up right now, and at extents, this Radio Quiet Zone provides radio protection CLIFF JOHNSON / CTIO / DECAM they’re not coming down. So collectively, we need to engage to the South African site of the SKA-Mid telescope.

22 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 23 PATHFINDERS FIRST DIRECT DETECTION OF A BROWN DWARF WITH LOFAR CONTRIBUTES TO A RADIO TELESCOPE NEW SOLAR ERUPTION BY MISCHA BRENDEL (ASTRON)

WARNING SYSTEM Astronomers at ASTRON have used the LOFAR radio telescope, a pathfinder of the SKA, to discover a brown dwarf. Above: Artist’s impression of a BY MISCHA BRENDEL (ASTRON) DISTURB antenna station.

The design of a new solar radio or damage electrical systems and for the longest wavelengths are nearly telescope that works in conjunction disrupt GPS navigation. identical to the ones LOFAR uses with LOFAR to provide alerts on solar (LOFAR observes radio waves above DISTURB detects the radio waves of eruptions is now complete. 1.25m in wavelength); all others are solar eruptions in ‘real-time’; when the either new antennas or re-used from sun becomes over 4,000 times brighter Appropriately named DISTURB, parts of a design which LOFAR made than usual – and thus emits far more (Disturbance detection by Intelligent for SKA during the design phase. Solar radio Telescope of (Un)perturbed radio waves – DISTURB immediately Radiofrequency Bands), its aim is to alerts KNMI, the Dutch Ministry of Although DISTURB will initially consist quickly alert other facilities to current Defence (both of which ordered the of a single antenna station, the and past solar radio interference on design of this solar radio telescope) DISTURB consortium aims to later have Earth. The design of DISTURB came and the LOFAR radio telescope, an several DISTURB stations, distributed from the Netherlands Institute for SKA pathfinder. LOFAR can then globally – just as LOFAR has. And also Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), S[&]T immediately ‘turn its eye’ on the just as with LOFAR, DISTURB will send (Science [&] Technology Corporation) Sun as well and start more detailed all its data to a central point. There is and KNMI (the Royal Netherlands observations. however one big difference: whereas Meteorological Institute). LOFAR needs measurements to be DISTURB will track all radio waves synchronized up to a billionth of one with a wavelength between 10cm Solar eruptions produce radio waves second, for DISTURB this accuracy and sometimes also large amounts and 100m. For this, the solar radio only needs to be around one tenth of a of UV and X-ray radiation that reach telescope uses five different kinds second, making it far easier to combine Earth, as well as large pockets of gas of antennas, with which we can than LOFAR. that typically arrive at Earth three measure the amount of radio noise days later. These gas clouds give us coming from the sun on over 600,000 The next step is to find funding to turn beautiful auroras but can also disturb different wavelengths. The antennas the design into an actual prototype. CHIME DETECTION MAY RESOLVE The discovery of the object dubbed discovery, we have taken an important Elegast is the first object of its kind Elegast, opens up a new path that step towards realising the promise of that has been directly identified in MYSTERIOUS ORIGIN OF FRBS uses radio telescopes to discover radio astronomy to exoplanet science,” radio images. The group is now busy SOURCE: MCGILL UNIVERSITY, CANADA faint objects that are close-cousins of said Dr Harish Vedantham, ASTRON acquiring follow-up observations Jupiter-like exoplanets. staff scientist and lead author of the to measure its magnetic field and study, which has been published in the compare the results with theory. They The close proximity of a high energy nearby magnetar located in the Milky “So far, all of the FRBs that telescopes Brown dwarfs are objects between Astrophysical Journal Letters. are also sifting through LOFAR data to pulse detected by CHIME, an SKA Way. In a study published recently in like CHIME have picked up were in the mass of giant planets and small identify more objects like Elegast. pathfinder facility located in Canada, Nature, they show that the intensity other galaxies, which makes them stars. They are sometimes called ‘failed “We could not have picked out suggests magnetars may be the source of the radio burst was three thousand quite hard to study in great detail,” stars’ because they don’t have enough Elegast in our standard radio images The published journal article can be of some fast radio bursts. times greater than that of any magnetar said Ziggy Pleunis, also senior PhD mass to sustain the fusion required to from among the crowd of millions of found here. measured thus far, lending weight to student in McGill’s Physics Department become a star. galaxies, but it immediately stood out New data from a Canadian-led team An open-access pre-print of the paper the theory that magnetars are at the and one of the co-authors of the new when we made circularly polarised of astronomers strongly suggest that Radio waves emitted by brown can be found here. origin of at least some FRBs. study. “Moreover, the magnetar theory images,” said Dr Tim Shimwell, magnetars - a type of dwarfs carry information about their was not supported by observations of ASTRON staff and project scientist believed to have an extremely powerful “We calculated that such an intense magnetic field strength. Until now magnetars in our own galaxy as they of the LOFAR survey that led to the magnetic field - could be the source of burst coming from another galaxy radio observations could only measure were found to be far less intense than discovery. Polarised radiation twists some fast radio bursts (FRBs). Though would be indistinguishable from some strong magnetic fields. LOFAR’s the energy released by extragalactic in the form of a helix as it travels. much research has been done to fast radio bursts, so this really gives low frequencies of observation FRBs until now.” Astronomers made the images with explain the mysterious phenomenon, weight to the theory suggesting that make it sensitive to magnetic fields a polarisation filter similar to the their source has thus far remained magnetars could be behind at least Smoking-gun proof of a magnetar comparable to that of a fridge magnet, one used in anti-glare sunglasses, elusive and the subject of some debate some FRBs,” said Pragya Chawla, one origin for some FRBs would come which is within the range postulated to Above: Artist’s impression of Elegast. but implemented in software. The within the astrophysics community. of the co-authors on the study and from the simultaneous detection of an exist on the coldest brown dwarfs and The blue loops depict the magnetic group then used infrared follow- a senior PhD student in the Physics extragalactic radio burst and an X-ray large exoplanets. field lines. Charged particles On 28 April 2020, a team of Department at McGill University. burst. However, this will likely only be up observations from the Gemini moving along these lines emit radio approximately 50 students, postdocs possible for nearby FRBs. Fortunately, “Magnetic fields control the telescope and NASA’s Infrared waves that LOFAR detected. Some One theory hypothesized FRBs to and professors from the Canadian CHIME/FRB is discovering these in atmospheric properties and radiation Telescope Facility to confirm that particles eventually reach the poles be extragalactic magnetars - young Hydrogen good numbers which should help environment around exoplanets Elegast was indeed a cold brown and generate aurorae similar to the extremely magnetic neutron stars that Experiment (CHIME) Fast Radio Burst identify the source eventually. and radio observations are our best dwarf. northern lights on Earth. (Image credit: occasionally flare to release enormous Collaboration detected an unusually hope of measuring them. With this ASTRON / Danielle Futselaar) intense radio burst emanating from a amounts of energy.

24 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 25 PATHFINDERS

UPGRADED GMRT Credit: NCRA GIVES NEW INSIGHTS INTO GALAXY EVOLUTION ASKAP CREATES ‘GOOGLE BY NCRA Astronomers from India’s National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) in Pune, and the Raman Research Institute MAP’ OF THE UNIVERSE (RRI) in Bangalore, have used the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), an SKA pathfinder facility, to measure for the first time the atomic hydrogen content of galaxies seen as they were eight billion years ago.

BY ANNABELLE YOUNG (CSIRO) This is the earliest in the even with powerful telescopes like “This is the kind of science that the Universe for which there is such a the upgraded GMRT. To overcome upgraded GMRT promised, and I The Australian Pathfinder (ASKAP) has conducted its first survey of the entire southern sky in measurement, giving new insights into this, the team used a technique called am really pleased that we are now record speed and detail, creating a new of the Universe. how galaxies evolve. The research has “stacking” to combine the 21cm beginning to deliver,” says Prof. been published in the journal Nature. signals of nearly 8,000 galaxies that Yashwant Gupta, Director of NCRA, ASKAP, operated by CSIRO, Australia’s national science “For the first time ASKAP has flexed its full muscles, building had earlier been identified with optical who is also on the SKA Board of Atomic hydrogen gas is the primary agency, at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory a map of the Universe in greater detail than ever before, and telescopes. This method measures the Directors. ”This kind of science is also fuel for star formation. Astronomers (MRO) in outback Western Australia, mapped approximately at record speed. We expect to find tens of millions of new average gas content of these galaxies. one of the main drivers of the SKA. have long known that galaxies three million galaxies in just 300 hours. The Rapid ASKAP galaxies in future surveys,” Dr McConnell said. So, true to its role as a SKA pathfinder formed stars at a higher rate when This study was made possible by Continuum Survey (RACS) is like a Google map of the facility, the upgraded GMRT is making The 13.5 exabytes (or 13.5 billion gigabytes) of raw data the Universe was young than they do GMRT’s new wideband receivers and Universe, where most of the millions of star-like points on discoveries that will prepare us for even generated by ASKAP were processed using hardware today, peaking about 8-10 billion years electronics, which provided a boost the map are distant galaxies. more exciting science with the SKA!” and software custom-built by CSIRO. The Pawsey ago and declining steadily ever since. in sensitivity enabling the telescope The telescope’s key feature is its wide field of view, Supercomputing Centre’s ‘Galaxy’ supercomputer The cause of this decline is unknown, to use 10 times more galaxies in the generated by new CSIRO-designed receivers, that enable converted the data into 2D radio images containing a total mostly because – until now – there was stacking analysis than a previous ASKAP to take panoramic pictures of the sky in exquisite of 70 billion pixels. The final 903 images and supporting no information about the amount of similar study. detail. The RACS survey team observed 83 per cent of the information amount to 26 terabytes of data -equivalent to atomic hydrogen in galaxies in these entire sky. The initial results have been published in the the storage capacity of more than 50 average laptops. early times.This new measurement has Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. The images and catalogues from the survey are publicly helped to fill that crucial gap. This record-breaking result proves that an all-sky survey available through the CSIRO Data Access Portal and hosted “Given the intense star formation in can be done in weeks rather than years, opening new at Pawsey. these early galaxies, their atomic gas opportunities for discovery. The new data will enable would be consumed by star formation astronomers to undertake statistical analyses of large in just one or two billion years. And, populations of galaxies, the same way social researchers use CSIRO acknowledges the Wajarri Yamatji as the traditional if the galaxies could not acquire more information from a national census. owners of the MRO site. gas, their star formation activity would “This census of the Universe will be used by astronomers decline, and finally cease,” says Aditya around the world to explore the unknown and study Chowdhury, a PhD student at NCRA- everything from star formation to how galaxies and their TIFR and the study’s lead author. “The supermassive black holes evolve and interact,” lead author observed decline in star formation and CSIRO astronomer Dr David McConnell said. activity can thus be explained by the exhaustion of the atomic hydrogen.” With ASKAP’s advanced receivers the team only needed Above: The RACS sky map in the background, with ASKAP Unlike stars which emit light strongly to combine 903 images to form the full map of the sky, antennas in the foreground and inset panels showing at optical wavelengths, the atomic Above left: An image of the stacked 21cm signal detected with the upgraded significantly less than the tens of thousands of images individual astronomical objects at the full level of detail hydrogen signal, with a wavelength GMRT, arising from atomic hydrogen gas in galaxies 22 billion light years away. needed for earlier all-sky radio surveys conducted by other provided by the survey. Nearly all the tiny specs in the sky- of 21cm, can only be detected with Above right: The spectrum of the stacked 21cm signal detected with the upgraded major telescopes. map represent a distant galaxy. Credit: CSIRO radio telescopes. However, the signal GMRT, arising from atomic hydrogen gas in galaxies 22 billion light years away. is extremely weak and difficult to The width of the signal gives an indication of the average rotation of galaxies eight detect from distant individual galaxies billion years ago.

26 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 27 TEAMSKA

You’re now involved in many aspects “Big Data” is one of the most of the project – tell us about those VLBI exciting aspects of the SKA. How did different roles. you get into the supercomputing side Very Long Baseline of astronomy? PROFESSOR Yes I play a variety of roles, sometimes (VLBI) uses telescopes separated as a scientist, sometimes as a project by long distances – or baselines Before I became involved with the manager, and sometimes as a – to observe the same object at SKA, to me Big Data seemed to be just government representative. This is the same time. When the data is an industrial hype gimmick. However, TAO AN very tough, as each role has different all combined, it’s like using one after engaging in SKA-related research, goals and challenges. SKA is the largest giant telescope with a diameter my opinion completely changed. Astronomy in the SKA era is data intensive, driven by international astronomical research equivalent to the distance between The SKA pathfinders alone, although the two most distant telescopes supercomputers and requiring constant innovation. In China, Prof. project in which China is deeply only a fraction of the scale of the involved. VLBI was used to stunning Tao An of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory has been at the involved, so I feel a great deal of SKA, are already producing petabyte- effect by the Event Horizon forefront of this work for years, collaborating within China and responsibility. level data, challenging the current Telescope (EHT) Collaboration compute and storage capacities. In beyond to push the limits of data processing to meet the SKA’s to capture the first image of a challenging requirements. Among those roles, I’ve been heavily the future, the SKA will revolutionise involved in work on the SKA Regional black hole, published in 2019. the traditional way of doing research A widely respected astronomer and co-chair of the SKA’s VLBI Centres (SRCs) [the global network of in radio astronomy; it will generate the Science Working Group, Tao was part of an international team computing facilities which will process, largest amount of astronomical data selected as finalists for the 2020 Gordon Bell Prize, which recognises store and give astronomers access ever recorded, which is a “gold mine” outstanding achievement in supercomputing (some call it the Nobel to SKA data]. I participate in the SRC for human exploration of the Universe. Prize for supercomputing!). He told us more about the work that led Steering Committee as a Chinese That means there is an urgent need for to that nomination, what it takes to be a great scientist, and how representative, worked on the overall supercomputers to support the analysis clear, dark skies inspired his love of astronomy. design of the global SRC network, and and storage of the SKA’s huge data was responsible for the construction flows. of the Chinese SRC prototype. We So let’s begin at the beginning, Tao – Shoujing in my hometown which I textbooks. It is a great memory, and the are proud that our team successfully As co-chair of the SKA-VLBI Science were you always keen on science as visited many times as a child, but I had first seed of astronomy was (probably) built the world’s first SRC prototype Working Group, I coordinate a team a child? only a vague idea that he was a famous planted deep inside my heart then. DID YOU with the help of the SKA Organisation of over 100 astronomers. VLBI is a scientist. I was born in an ordinary small town and colleagues from partner institutes, highly collaborative international KNOW? How did you become involved in the in northern China. I did not have and with great support from industry, scientific programme that demands a Multi-messenger astronomy What made you want to be an SKA? particularly Huawei. I have fond much access to science as a child, high degree of cooperation from each uses electromagnetic radiation astronomer? memories of unveiling the prototype but I was not a stranger to astronomy. I’ve been working in radio astronomy individual researcher. This is similar (different kinds of light) and to the community at the 2019 SKA In my hometown, there was once The sky overhead is mysterious and since my PhD in Astrophysics, and to the future SKA science teams. I other ‘messengers’ to study the a very famous astronomer named fascinating to every child. On summer a logical path for me was joining Engineering Meeting held in Shanghai am delighted to work with excellent Universe, including gravitational Guo Shoujing. He lived more than nights, lying outside to cool off offers the SKA. My first contact with the in November. Seeing the prototype colleagues from the VLBI family. waves and cosmic rays. 700 years ago, and made important a great view of the twinkling stars SKA was when I visited ASTRON in change day by day is like watching Engaging in research is what we are all contributions to many fields of science, in the night sky. It is sad that with the Netherlands for one year as a a child grow up; it’s an amazing and about. Multi-wavelength astronomy combines observations made including astronomy. The largest optical the development of cities it is now visiting researcher, through the China unforgettable feeling. by different types of telescopes telescope in China (the Large Sky impossible to see the night sky as I Scholarship Council, in 2011; it is one of What do you find so interesting – radio, optical, infrared and so Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic did in childhood. We often looked the birthplaces of the SKA concept and You’re also an astrophysicist of about VLBI? on – to reveal a more complete Telescope, LAMOST) is named after for constellations or bright stars has very active scientists involved in the course! What’s your research focus? The ultimate goal of building and picture of an event or object. him. There is a memorial to Guo corresponding to the illustrations in our SKA. During this period, I visited the I am mainly engaged in high-resolution operating the SKA is to explore the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope observations of compact radio sources, mysteries of the Universe and to (WSRT) and Low-Frequency Array especially observing the fine structure achieve major breakthroughs in natural (LOFAR), both SKA pathfinders, and You have been involved in testing of astronomical objects such as active science. In the era of multi-messenger, learned much scientific and technical SKA data processing on some of the galactic nuclei, transient sources, and multi-wavelength astronomy, VLBI knowledge about the SKA. After the fastest computers in the world – tell pulsars using the very long baseline provides essential complementary SKA site decision was made in 2012, us about that. interferometry (VLBI) technique. information for the high-resolution the Chinese government started the study of transient sources, helping us That’s right, as part of some of the preparation work for participation in to build a more complete picture. It’s SKA’s Science Data Processor work the project and the construction of an incredibly powerful technique. packages my team and I tested how prototypes. That’s when I joined these In the future, I see the SKA as software workflows can be scaled up efforts and became a member of the the core of the global VLBI to meet the SKA’s data processing SKA family. network; it will be able to demands. This included carrying out probe deeper into space, testing in 2016 using Tianhe-2 in China, GUO SHOUJING significantly broadening then the world’s fastest supercomputer, our understanding of and more recently on SUMMIT, the Guo Shoujing was a 13th century Chinese the Universe. SKA’s current fastest supercomputer at Oak astronomer, mathematician, engineer. Initially powerful capabilities Ridge National Laboratory in the United specialising in hydraulic engineering, overseeing will undoubtedly live States. many major water projects, he also developed up to expectations! new astronomical instrumentation to improve the accuracy of observations. This enabled the creation of a new, more accurate calendar which remained in use in China for more than 360 years. Left: Tao at work with some of his SRC Steering Committee colleagues from institutions all over the world.

28 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 29 TEAMSKA

THE SKA IS NOT ONLY A TELESCOPE, BUT ALSO AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PLATFORM. NOTHING IS MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE SHARING AND PROPAGATION OF KNOWLEDGE UNDER THE SAME SKY.

Prof. Tao An – Head of SKA group of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory

After months of hard work, our (ICRAR/ This is the largest workflow ever computers, communications, Australia, ORNL/USA, SHAO/China) generated in astronomy and fully electronics and many others. That’s very collaborative team finally completed demonstrates the big data challenges exciting. the full-scale SKA1 workflow test in of the SKA. This success demonstrates 2019, and presented the results at the SKA community has the right tools, What is it like working with so many the 2019 SKA Engineering Meeting in sufficient resources and expertise to different nationalities as part of the Shanghai. The experiment simulated handle the large SKA data flow, and the SKA? SKA1-Low observations from the innovative techniques we developed It’s certainly a pleasure to be a member cosmic reionisation era, performed are applicable to other data-intensive of the SKA family. Participating in a calibration and imaging pipeline, areas of scientific computing too. As academic activities and engineering and finally generated spectral line a result of our efforts, this work was projects with colleagues from different cubes. This generated 2.5 petabytes selected as a finalist for the 2020 academic backgrounds, countries, of simulated data (if you have a 500 Gordon Bell Prize. cultures, and ages, we not only gigabyte laptop, you would need 5,000 undergone extensive and systematic exchange scientific results, but we of them to store this data!), and the What’s the best thing about being professional training. There are no also make many friends and share processing consumed 99% of SUMMIT’s part of Team SKA? shortcuts in scientific research, so a knowledge. This is a priceless asset compute resource in its peak operation. strong interest and perseverance are Astronomy is a highly open discipline. and a very enriching experience! There The data was written to disk, just like required. The SKA is not only a telescope, but are some challenges of course, like your laptop does, except in this case it also an international collaborative different time zones. Also, because needed a tremendous amount of disk Lastly, you need good scientific research platform. Nothing is more English is not my first language, I have space in SUMMIT, and happened at partnerships. The division of knowledge wonderful than the sharing and to adapt my hearing to many different 926 gigabytes/s, 1.5 times the SKA1- and professional skills is becoming propagation of knowledge under the accents! Low design capacity! Writing data at more and more refined, and no one same sky. SKA is also a huge project such speeds is extremely complex, and can complete a large-scale scientific that spans the frontiers of science Do you have time for hobbies outside required us to make major technical research experiment project alone. and technology in many fields such as the office? advances. In a community composed of people astronomy, mechanical engineering, When I was younger I enjoyed playing with different knowledge backgrounds, football, basketball and computer everyone’s talents can be used, and games, but now I am mostly busy everyone’s role is very important. with research or other business. On weekends or holidays I try to relax with Credits: All images courtesy of Tao An. my family watching movies or playing chess and cards with my son. Maybe after retirement I will have enough time Team SKA In each issue of Contact, we’ll get to pick up some hobbies again! to know one of the many talented people contributing to the SKA, What does it take to be a great hearing about their work, how they scientist, in your opinion? got here and their advice for the next generation. Scientific research is creative work and imagination is the source of innovative results. A good scientist must be able to think independently. New ideas, new methods, and scientific breakthroughs are often produced through questioning and debates. Winners in any field are not born, they are made. Excellent scientists must have

Left and top right: Tao was responsible for the construction of the Chinese SRC prototype, the first such prototype in the world.

30 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 31 EVENTS THE SKA OBSERVATORY | VIRTUAL CONFERENCE HERITAGE, HISTORY AND INDIGENOUS ASTRONOMY AA PRECURSOR VIEW BY SARAO COMMUNICATIONS SARAO recently hosted a virtual conversation focusing on Indigenous Astronomy as part of Heritage month in South Africa. OFOF THETHE SKASKA SKYSKY The event brought together important international stakeholders in an effort to acknowledge and reflect on the 15–19 MARCH 2021 heritage of Indigenous peoples in partner countries, drawing on commonalities in the context of the SKA. It focused on the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems and their role in current and future scientific research. The land on which the SKA telescopes will be constructed in both host countries has strong ties to Indigenous heritage. In South Africa, the Karoo region was inhabited by the early ancestors of the San people, who are considered to be some of the most ancient people on Earth, having been around for the past 22,000 years. There are still significant amounts of cultural heritage found on the land to date. In Australia, the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, which was established in 2009, while being one of the world’s newest , is built on ancient land where geologists have identified some of the oldest rocks on Earth. There is evidence that Aboriginal communities lived on this land for tens of thousands of years before it was settled in the 1800’s by pastoralists. Throughout the conversation, common themes around the use of astronomy in the everyday lives of Indigenous peoples The chieftainship of four San tribes and the Griqua Khoi came to the fore; stories on how the and stars were held a ceremonial blessing and cleansing of the SKA used to determine weather patterns, agricultural cycles and project and South African SKA site during a visit in 2017 the telling of mythological tales across generations. ahead of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding This was the first conversation of its kind and opens more with SARAO. Credit: SARAO opportunities for knowledge sharing on the social context that the SKA project exists within. TACKLING RESEARCH ACCESSIBILITY 2021 SKA SCIENCE BY DR SHARI BREEN AND MATHIEU ISIDRO (SKAO EDI WORKING GROUP) CONFERENCE Earlier this year, SKAO was invited to join the organisation It is the hope of the organisers that these can be brought We are very pleased to announce that abstract submission for the 2021 SKA science meeting, entitled “A precursor of a joint ESA/ESO/IAU/SKAO workshop on space and together into a joint document setting out recommendations view of the SKA sky”, is now open through the OnAir page. astronomy research accessibility, bringing together the three for our own organisations and for the field, so keep an eye intergovernmental organisations in the field together with the out for summaries of the discussions and good practice to be In the year that marks the establishment of the SKA Observatory, as well as the start of SKA construction activities, we professional body for astronomers worldwide. published in due time. want to bring the focus to science, with the new and exciting results that are being produced by the SKA precursors and pathfinders and their implication for SKA. The workshop took place at the beginning of December, and SKAO was represented by members of its Equality, Diversity & The Conference will be a fully virtual event, to be held on 15-19 March 2021. It will include plenary sessions organised Inclusion Working Group. Twenty four speakers (at least a third by the SOC, as well as splinter sessions organised independently by the Science Working Groups. The format will of whom have conditions that impact their accessibility needs) allow participation across all time zones. took part in the event from the USA, Europe, South Africa, The registration fee is £40 per person (£20 for students), to cover the cost of the online platform. Australia and Asia in what is thought to be the first meeting on accessibility, disability and neurodiversity for the space and We look forward to seeing many of you there! astronomy professional community. The Scientific Organising Committee Discussions centred around the needs of researchers who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hearing-impaired, have a physical disability or are neurodiverse. Clear tips and recommendations were provided on how to organise more inclusive events and meetings - both virtual and in- person -, on the use of accessible research software, on SKATELESCOPE.ORG/SKASCICON21SKATELESCOPE.ORG/PRECURSOR-CONFERENCE inclusive behaviour and on accessible policy-making at an Square Kilometre Array The Square Kilometre Array organisational level. @SKA_telescope @SKA_telescope

32 CONTACT | DECEMBER 2020 NEWS

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WEB

ABC NEWS PHYSICS THE NAKED SCIENTISTS A Quiet Place – An in-depth feature Physics in South Africa – How radio The largest telescope ever made – on the Indigenous communities astronomy and involvement in the The popular science podcast speaks local to the future SKA-Low site in SKA is contributing to a boom in to SKA Director-General Prof. Philip Australia, and work on the Indigenous South Africa’s physics sectors. Diamond about the exciting science SKA JOBS Land Use Agreement between the SKA will make possible. CSIRO and traditional owners. SCIENCE Starlink already threatens optical REFLETS DE LA PHYSIQUE As we ramp up towards start of construction in the next few months, we will be recruiting UK HQ based staff in THE AUSTRALIAN astronomy. Now, radio astronomers are Le Square Kilometre Array, un Procurement, Finance, Communications, IT, Health & Safety and Engineering roles. We are also starting to recruit for some The big picture emerges in WA – worried – Science magazine explores radiotélescope géant - Chiara roles to be based in Australia and South Africa. Some of those roles will be employed through our partners CSIRO and Behind the scenes of a science-meets the effect of satellite constellations Ferrari, Maison SKA-France Director, SARAO. Make sure to register on our recruitment website to receive alerts. art documentary centred on the SKA on the SKA and other observatories, provides an overview of the SKA and Indigenous astronomy, currently in and efforts to mitigate the impact. and the science it will tackle in the SYSTEM ENGINEER SKA-MID TELESCOPE DIRECTOR production at the future SKA-Low site. French Physics Society’s magazine. This role will report to the Senior Systems Engineer for We are seeking to fill two positions, one as Director of the SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING WORLD the Observatory and will be part of team of six system SKA-Mid Telescope, the other as Director of SKA-Low. This HPC WIRE GITLAB Harvesting data from large radio engineers. This particular role will take on responsibility advert is for the Director of the SKA-Mid Telescope. Four Teams Using ORNL’s Summit telescope arrays – Mark Stickells, How SKA uses Gitlab to help construct for complex system engineering tasks. This will require an Deadline: 08/02/2021 Supercomputer Named Finalists in executive director of Australia’s Pawsey the world’s largest radio telescope expert in problem solving and system thinking. Apply here 2020 Gordon Bell Prize – The finalists Supercomputing Centre, discusses – SKAO is leading the design of the Deadline: 25/01/2021 for the prestigious supercomputing the centre’s vital role in processing globally distributed radio telescope SKA-LOW TELESCOPE DIRECTOR prize included an international team astronomical data, and how the SKA, using GitLab SCM and CI for Apply here working on data pipelines for the SKA. centre has contributed to the fight scientific collaboration, development We are seeking to fill two positions, one as Director of the SENIOR CONTRACTS SPECIALIST against the COVID-19 pandemic. efficiency, and transparency. SKA-Mid Telescope, the other as Director of SKA-Low. This The SKA seeks to recruit a Senior Contracts Specialist advert is for the Director of the SKA-Mid Telescope. CARTOON CORNER (construction and engineering categories) with a Deadline: 08/02/2021 demonstrable track record of delivering against a Apply here challenging timeline whilst being a champion of commercial excellence and proactively drawing on their own extensive TREASURY MANAGER professional experience to enable the effective and Reporting to the CFO, the Treasury Manager will be efficient procurement of complex international contracts responsible for the day to day centralised treasury function and agreements. of the SKA Observatory and providing treasury support to Deadline: 22/02/2021 Finance Managers located in the three host countries. Apply here Deadline: 11/01/2021 Apply here PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST (SOFTWARE AND ICT) The SKA seeks to recruit a Procurement Specialist SKA REGIONAL CENTRE ARCHITECT (Software and ICT) with a demonstrable track record of The SKA Computing and Software team is looking delivering to an agreed plan whilst being a champion of for a talented System Architect to work with the SRC commercial excellence, proactively drawing on their own stakeholders to develop the federated architecture that will extensive professional experience to enable the effective support the essential requirements and quality attributes and efficient procurement of software and ICT products needed to deliver this capability. Deadline: 08/01/2021 Social media has been awash with messages of support and dismay at Arecibo’s tragic end. Here’s one take on it – and services. first SETI message (1974), Decommissioning (2020), Farewell Arecibo. Credit: Jesús Carmona @JesCarmons( ) Deadline: 11/01/2021 Apply here Apply here PARTNER PUBLICATIONS DON’T MISS! SKA AT UN75 GA READ THE LATEST SKA-RELATED NEWS FROM PARTNER INSTITUTE JOBS SOME OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS On the occasion of the United Nations 75th General Assembly, SKAO was invited to deliver a series of presentations to discuss the role POSTDOC POSITIONS AT EPFL of the SKA in answering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The talks, delivered by a number of SKAO staff and key partners Two postdoctoral researcher positions (one in astrophysics and one in data science) are available at the Laboratory of SKA-FRANCE – BULLETIN – from around the SKA’s family, presented the inspirational range of Astrophysics (LASTRO) of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, to work on developing NOVEMBER 2020 outcomes already being delivered across the SKA project, from astrophysics expertise in the context of the new large radio-interferometry projects. human capital development, innovation and technology development, Deadline: 03/01/2021 to education and culture. Speakers showed the prospects for the Astro - Apply here future, demonstrating MEDIA INAF LATEST SKA NEWS Data science - Apply here how the alignment with the UN’s SDGs, and the CAREERS AT SARAO footprint of the SKA across developed and developing Are you ready to be part of building one of the world’s largest research infrastructure projects? After the successful completion ASTRON NEWSLETTER – countries, present a unique of the MeerKAT radio telescope, SARAO is about to start the construction phase of the MeerKAT Extension project. NOVEMBER 2020 opportunity for the world. Follow this link to find out more details and how to apply

RADIONET RADIONET NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2020 35 Contact – The SKA magazine Published by the SKAO Communications team.

Editor: William Garnier [email protected] Editorial team: Mathieu Isidro, Cassandra Cavallaro [email protected] Design: Joe Diamond, based on an original design by Carbon Creative

We welcome your contributions to Contact! Find out how to submit ideas here.

All images in Contact are courtesy of SKAO unless otherwise indicated.

About the SKA The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Organisation leads an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope. The SKA will be constructed in Australia and South Africa with a later expansion in both countries and into other African countries. Its global headquarters is located at Jodrell Bank in the UK.

The SKA will conduct transformational science and help to address fundamental gaps in our understanding of the Universe including the formation and evolution of galaxies, fundamental physics in extreme environments and the origins of life in the Universe.

Front cover: A certified copy of the SKA Observatory Convention, which is held at SKA Global Headquarters, bearing the official seal of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (now the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). The necessary ratifications for SKAO to enter into force were reached in December 2020.

For printed versions Hyperlinks: Contact is produced primarily as a digital magazine. If you are reading a print copy, use the QR code to read this and other issues of Contact online and access the hyperlinks.