World's largest telescope: Astronomy, science and opportunity in the era of big data

Scientists, engineers, representatives from industry and government from around the world are gathering between July 3 and 8 in Banff, Canada, for a week-long series of meetings. Journalists are invited to join them to explore the scientific and technical potential as well as industrial challenges of the world's largest radio telescope, one so sensitive so that it will be able to detect an airport radar on a planet 50-light years away.

The international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is also holding a public forum on July 6, 2011 at the Banff Centre. Presentations during the forum will include a keynote address from Nobel laureate John Mather from NASA on the impact the SKA will have on science. Keynote speakers from industry include Dave Turek of IBM and Bill Lyons of Boeing Research and Technology. There will be updates on the international reorganisation and the exciting next phase of the project, as well as on the latest SKA technology and precursor telescopes at candidate sites located Australia - New Zealand and South Africa.

The public forum and meetings are co-hosted by the Canadian and United States SKA Consortia and the international Square Kilometre Array Program Development Office (SPDO).

Financial support is not available for journalists to attend the SKA Forum but registration is free of charge.

Schedule:
Note: Breakout sessions are closed to media.

3 July: Registration opens and evening reception

4-5 July: SKA science and frontiers of astronomy in the era of massive datasets: The promise and challenges

6 July: International SKA Forum

7-8 July: Engineering and industry opportunities in the SKA

For more information and to register go to: http://www.ska2011.org/

Provided by University of Calgary