Joint IPENZ + AUT Lecture 2015 on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)

On 26 August, in line with a tradition now running over five years, AUT hosted the Auckland Branch of The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) for an evening focused on SKA developments.  This international mega project to build the world’s largest radio telescope (in fact an array or collection of various types of antennas spread over long distances) will create another first:  the world’s largest public science data project.  Once completed it will generate data at a rate more than ten times today’s global Internet data rate.

Speaking to a large audience of over 80 people, consisting of engineers, AUT staff and students and members of the Auckland Astronomical Society, Professor Sergei Gulyaev outlined the many science expectations to be delivered by the SKA.  He ended with the observation that there will be answers to questions that have not even been asked yet.  Dr Andrew Ensor talked about the technical challenges involved in designing and powering the computer systems required to process the data.  With data being generated in very remote, interference free locations the challenges are enormous.  He also covered the role NZ plays in the design phase of the SKA and the opportunities created for our industries.

At the end of the presentations Sergei and Andrew were each awarded a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of their contributions to the success of the 2011-2015 series of IPENZ Square Kilometre Array lectures.