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Over The Horizon

Hopes for a SALTy Future

New Zealand has the opportunity to participate in the development of the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), with positive responses to a proposal to participate in the project.

Most of the leaders in the project were in New Zealand recently for a board meeting, including Professor Khotso Mokhele, President of the South African National Research Foundation, as well as representatives of confirmed SALT partners from Poland, the US and Germany. A major reception at Te Papa brought local scientific and political leaders together with the board to discuss how New Zealand could participate.

New Zealand is one of a number of potential partners. An internationally advised feasibility study undertaken earlier this year concluded that New Zealand had the capability of providing sophisticated instrumentation to support the telescope's operation.

Associate Professor Peter Cottrell, of Canterbury University's Physics and Astronomy Department, said that the New Zealand bid was looking to provide assistance, such as instrumentation development, in kind.

"The idea is to do it with industry -- such as IRL and places like that -- and use their expertise and combine it with the expertise at universities."

Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) and Auckland and Victoria Universities are interested in participating, and Cottrell is working on a business plan covering funding of the research and development.

South Africa has committed around US$10 million to the project, with Poland pledging US$3 million and other major contributors looking to provide US$1-2 million apiece. Now that funding for the actual telescope is assured, the SALT team is prepared to look favourably on contributions in kind of the nature the New Zealand team has suggested.

SALT is seen as a flagship science project for South Africa.

"SALT is much more than a large technology project to improve our understanding of the universe. We need a population literate in science and technology in order to be a player in the global economy in the 21st century  --  SALT will enable us to be at the forefront of research, as well as inspire the youth to consider careers in science and technology," says Mokhele. "With this investment, South Africa is sending a strong signal to the world that we are prepared to support fundamental science at an international level. The strategic use of this great national asset  --  SALT  --  will ensure that the southern African sub-region and the continent of Africa are equally empowered."

The New Zealand consortium is seeking partnership in SALT at the 5% level, which would provide sufficient input for local scientists and engineers. Part of New Zealand's contribution could include a substantial contract to build a large spectroscope, and would provide opportunities for optical design and fabrication within the universities and Crown Research Institutes.

"This project could provide substantial spin-offs in a number of technological fields  --  optical engineering and fabrication and imaging technology, as well as a boost for the fundamental sciences in New Zealand. This is a unique opportunity to become involved in a big science and technology project for a relatively modest investment," notes Cottrell.

New Zealand astronomers are well placed to take advantage of SALT's capabilities and to expand their role in southern hemisphere astronomy. SALT will allow research into such areas as planetary searches, evolution of galaxies and studies of the early universe.