Daily Image
26-08-2019
Netherlands first country to ratify SKA Observatory Convention
| Submitter: | Frank Nuijens |
| Description: | The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory, the intergovernmental organisation that will build and operate the radio telescope, has taken an important step forward thanks to the ratification of the SKA Observatory Convention by the parliament of the Netherlands. Ratification was confirmed last week. Prof. Carole Jackson, director-general of ASTRON: "I am very proud that the Netherlands is one of the founders of the new SKA Observatory. ASTRON is hosting the SKA Office for the Netherlands, with which we coordinate scientific and technical efforts of this mega project with Dutch universities and industry. We look forward to continuing this work with our national and international partners to make the SKA a success." The Convention was signed in Rome on 12 March 2019 (the image shows Oscar Delnooz of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science signing the Convention on behalf of the Netherlands). It establishes the intergovernmental organisation and enters into force once at least five countries, including the three host countries (Australia, South Africa and United Kingdom), have completed ratification and submitted their instruments of ratification with the depository (the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office). The milestone was received with great enthusiasm; this news was our most popular ever on many of ASTRON’s social media channels. Deputy director Marco de Vos talked about what this news means for the project on RTV Drenthe radio (from 29:50), and the popular website Tweakers wrote an article about it. And Jason Hessels appeared on the NPO1 radio program De Optimist (Listen to the radio interview from 27:28). |
| Copyright: | SKA Organisation |
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