As part of recent Australia Day celebrations, two West Australians were awarded Australia Day Team Achievement Medallions for their contribution to the Australia\/New Zealand bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope project.<\/p>\n
The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), a joint venture between Â鶹ֱ²¥ and The University of Western Australia, is working closely with the Department of Commerce and others throughout Australia and New Zealand to provide the international community with the best site to host the next generation telescope.<\/p>\n
ICRAR Outreach and Education Manager, Pete Wheeler, and Penny Griffin of WA\u2019s Department of Commerce received the highest level of recognition for their efforts.<\/p>\n
Mr Wheeler said the pair received their award as part of a team contribution to the design and delivery of an engagement strategy highlighting Australia and New Zealand\u2019s desire to host the SKA mega-science project.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year, in the lead up to Australia Day, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science & Research recognises outstanding performance of individuals and teams working on nationally significant projects in the preceding year,\u201d Mr Wheeler said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a real honour to receive this award. It\u2019s not why we do the work we do, but it\u2019s great to have a chance to look back on a job well done, particularly when it involves a team of people working so hard to secure this project for Australia and New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Wheeler said if the two countries were chosen as the host site, thousands of antennas would be located in \u2018radio quiet\u2019 areas throughout Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen connected and operational, these antennas will work together to create the world\u2019s biggest radio telescope, capable of seeing the first light from the first object to exist in the Universe. It\u2019s a very exciting project,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Curtin Professor of Radio Astronomy Engineering and Deputy Director responsible for Engineering at ICRAR, Professor Peter Hall, said ICRAR\u2019s success had been a testament to the quality of its staff and their dedication to the SKA initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cICRAR is one of three pillars of the Australian SKA bid and its staff take seriously their role in briefing the world on the technical and other advantages of the Australian site,\u201d Professor Hall said.<\/p>\n
Australia Day Team Achievement Medallions were awarded on 25 January 2011 to members of the intergovernmental Taskforce that managed Australia and New Zealand\u2019s participation and presentation at the International Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Forum in the Netherlands in 2010.<\/p>\n
Recipients included four officers from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research in Canberra; and three external contributors, one from New Zealand\u2019s Ministry of Economic Development and two from Western Australia.<\/p>\n
Their achievements are credited with clearly positioning Australia and New Zealand\u2019s bid as the candidate site able to deliver the best science to the international community.<\/p>\n
Contacts:<\/p>\n
Pete Wheeler Andrea Barnard, Public Relations, Â鶹ֱ²¥
\nICRAR Outreach and Education Manager
\nEmail: pete.wheeler@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTel: 08 9266 4241, Mobile: 0401 103 755, Email: andrea.barnard@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n