International SKA directions
I am extremely pleased to be taking on the role of the SKA's first International Project Engineer (IPE) and am looking forward to working with the SKA Director, Richard Schilizzi, to advance this exciting world project. Here in Australia, I've been privileged to have built a great team and have been fortunate enough to have led efforts culminating in the submission of both concept and site proposals. I can't speak highly enough of the insight and dedication of the Australian group, and I have no doubt that its impact on the world scene will continue.
Internationally, the phase-2 SKA concept description documents ("whitepapers") have been reviewed and, after much discussion at the recent Geraldton meeting, detailed critiques completed by the International Engineering and Management Team (IEMT) and the International Science Advisory Committee (ISAC). Both reviews are available via the international website (www.skatelescope.org ). A major effort is currently being made by ISAC to update the SKA-science case, and to identify and highlight the "level-0" (imperative) science drivers. Much of the science case refinement will be undertaken at a meeting to be held in Leiden in November 2003.
Next steps in SKA engineering revolve around demonstration of the key technologies identified by the IEMT and the various concept proponents. While a level of general update material will be welcome in the phase-3 whitepapers (due 30 April 2004), the emphasis will be on outlining project plans for engineering and/or astronomy demonstrators. Preparation of these plans will be invaluable in focusing concept groups on pivotal SKA engineering demands, notwithstanding the existence of many, shorter-term, R&D imperatives. Importantly, the phase-3 whitepapers will also be central to the formulation by the international project office of realistic demonstrator timescales and evaluation criteria.
In parallel with the project-plan development, two other important international processes are underway. First, the IEMT and IPE, with the help of the newly-formed Simulations Group, are working towards common performance and costing metrics for all SKA concepts. Second, the community has recognized that no single SKA concept satisfies all the instrument's goals; serious efforts to examine the merits of hybrid, or composite, telescopes are now in progress. This convergence process will feature prominently at the January 2004 (Capetown) meetings of the International SKA Steering Committee and the IEMT.
I should also mention the considerable efforts of the international Site Evaluation and Selection Committee (SESC). The SESC, and its engineering working group dealing with site characterization (including RFI measurements), is still progressing towards a 2005-site choice. Part of the IPE's role is to oversee the relevant engineering activities and I am looking forward to working with many colleagues around the world in this role.
The next full international SKA meeting will be held in July 2004, in Penticton. With so much happening, and the possibility of a working retreat prior to the main meeting, I expect the growing scale and pace of the SKA project to result in an intense and productive Canadian gathering.
Peter Hall
(Peter.Hall@csiro.au)