Geographical Advantage, Local Disadvantage? Astronomy in South Africa

• In Event: STS Africa: Infrastructures

Abstract

South Africa is home to a growing astrophysics community. International multimillion dollar projects such as the Southern Africa Large Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope (SKA), contributed to the existing astronomy community and allowed for its continued growth. The Astronomy Geographical Advantage Act (2007) established a section of the Karoo Desert as a 'preserve' for astronomy. This Act puts limitations on certain activities and technologies within the region, around the preservation of the dark skies and radio quiet region needed for astronomical observations. In 2014-15, I interviewed inhabitants in the region in the town of Carnarvon, the town closest to the core of the Square Kilometre Array. What emerged was a complicated picture of benefits, disadvantages, and disappointments associated with being ‘the Home of the SKA’. A repeated benefit was that knowledge of Carnarvon was elevated within South Africa and the rest of the world because of the SKA. However, benefits beyond that were not so unanimous. Disappointments were connected to local infrastructure, workforce development, and commerce. I conclude that despite the clear language of the Astronomy Geographical Advantage Act, peoples’ expectations were not in alignment with the reality of living near an astronomy observatory.

Author

• Jarita Holbrook, University of the Western Cape