African countries propose SKA fund

Nine African countries partnering in the Square Kilometre Array have proposed a fund to train scientists and research radio astronomy on the continent.

Senior officials from science ministries in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia proposed the fund at a steering committee meeting in Kenya on 3 and 4 November.

Countries would contribute US$6 million in total to the fund every year if it is approved by the SKA ministerial meeting, says Moses Rugut, director of Kenya’s National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation. The SKA ministerial meeting is a forum of African science ministers involved in the project.