1st MIDPREP WORKSHOP:
Technology meets science exchange session

MIDPREP is an EU funded FP7 program enabling knowledge and staff exchange between two leading European institutes in research and three South African partners. The partners collaborate in developing and builiding radio astronomy instrumentation e.g. through the Square Kilometre Array precursor MeerKAT in the Karoo as framework for (inter)national human-capital, research and infrastructure. In Europe novel approaches to radio astronomy i.e. Aperture Array technology as used in the Low Frequency Array (“LOFAR”)and Wideband Single Pixel Feed Receivers give insight in gaps to be filled and requirements for future radio telescopes. For the SKA as the world largest radio telescope operating in the next decade, with a large part to be realised in the Karoo, a common long term focus is developing requiring intensified knowledge exchange.

Specifically, MIDPREP organizes for strengthening relevant research networks through exchange of experienced and early-stage radio scientists and engineers between South African institutes to and from Sweden and the Netherlands. Through that, MIDPREP aims at a common design view on site related aspects for radio telescopes, to advance radio-optics, calibration, ICT, processing and technology views and (possibly “green”) designs on MID-SKA centred in the Karoo. Knowledge from the project will be disseminated to a larger community by annual workshops, out of which this workshop is the first.

Date             : 31 March p.m./1 April a.m.

 

 

 

AAMID CONSORTIUM MEETING

The 1st MIDPREP workshop will be followed by the AAMID all-hands meeting. The AAMID consortium executes the Mid Frequency Aperture Array (MFAA) work package that is part of the SKA Advanced Instrumentation Programme. The AAMID all-hands is an open meeting, interested visitors are welcome, in particular on the first day which will have general overview talks, but registration is required.

The detailed program will be made available soon. Information of the consortium can be found at: https://www.skatelescope.org/skadesign/wp/mfaa/

 

Date             : 1 April p.m./2 April         

Location        : ASTRON Van de Hulst Auditorium, Dwingeloo (NL)