Countries commit to SKA funding

[rpm]

Countries commit to raising funds to build SKA

Eight countries have joined forces with South Africa by signing a letter of intent to see the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) built - a move that has been welcomed by Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.

 

[Turtle]

Is it just me or does this SKA project seem to be taking forever and not really getting anywhere?

 

[FatBoySlim]

yeah, the usual process of seeing how many free Mercs can be gotten from each of the potential vendors is usually quite lengthy.

 

[mikeyb]

It's not going to cost 1.5 million euro, it's going to cost 1.5 BILLION euro. Big difference

Source: http://www.ska.ac.za/

 

[Palimino]

Eight countries have joined forces with South Africa by signing a letter of intent to see the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) built - a move that has been welcomed by Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.

What a waste of money and effort. The selectors would be insane to choose SA for the SKA. Consider:

A skills base that is white. There is no bling associated with astronomy (only knowledge) so no blacks. It would be pointed-out that the astronomy sector wasn’t ‘transformed’ so it would be filled with incompetent blacks. It would only be a matter of time before some cretinous union leader said “If our demunds to management are not met to reinstate the two union members (dismissed for laziness and theft), we will trash the telescope array. Viva!” another thing that would count against selection: there would be lots of money involved in constructing a telescope array. A magnet for corruption and theft. Add into the mix a politically unstable country.

SA had not a chance for any rational decision. Rather Australia.

 

[R13...]

A skills base that is white. There is no bling associated with astronomy (only knowledge) so no blacks.

They did a program reviewing the SA bid in terms of skills development and the engineer (control systems) they interviewed was black.
You are as usual letting your prejudices lead the way.

 

[ToxicBunny]

What a waste of money and effort. The selectors would be insane to choose SA for the SKA. Consider:

A skills base that is white. There is no bling associated with astronomy (only knowledge) so no blacks. It would be pointed-out that the astronomy sector wasn’t ‘transformed’ so it would be filled with incompetent blacks. It would only be a matter of time before some cretinous union leader said “If our demunds to management are not met to reinstate the two union members (dismissed for laziness and theft), we will trash the telescope array. Viva!” another thing that would count against selection: there would be lots of money involved in constructing a telescope array. A magnet for corruption and theft. Add into the mix a politically unstable country.

SA had not a chance for any rational decision. Rather Australia.

You live in a sadly blinkered little world.

The fact that you use tired arguments to try and justify why SA shouldn't get a part of what is one of the most significant scientific projects of the last 30 or 40 years is staggering.
The benefits that the SKA would bring to SA are numerous and staggering in their size.

 

[Palimino]

The fact that you use tired arguments to try and justify why SA shouldn't get a part of what is one of the most significant scientific projects of the last 30 or 40 years is staggering.

I am not arguing that it’s ‘the most significant scientific projects of the last 30 or 40 years’. That’s the reason why it would be insane to have ‘the most significant scientific project’ in SA. It would be massively expensive and the country as it exists now, can’t cope. No skills, no bling, dumbass unions and unstable politically.

The benefits that the SKA would bring to SA are numerous and staggering in their size.

I agree. I also have a fondness for knowledge. Knowledge (IMO) trumps benefits (read another BMW for bling-crazed ‘facilitators’) and debilitating corruption with all the tenders and money involved.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I am not arguing that it’s ‘the most significant scientific projects of the last 30 or 40 years’. That’s the reason why it would be insane to have ‘the most significant scientific project’ in SA. It would be massively expensive and the country as it exists now, can’t cope. No skills, no bling, dumbass unions and unstable politically.



I agree. I also have a fondness for knowledge. Knowledge (IMO) trumps benefits (read another BMW for bling-crazed ‘facilitators’) and debilitating corruption with all the tenders and money involved.

The cost wouldn't be bourne solely by this country, the skills are actually here, and will come from all over the world for this project. The unions will have very little to do with this project... and as for politically unstable, I think you need to go and check the real world.. we aren't politically unstable, we're politically vibrant at the moment.

You might also find that very little in the way of tender corruption will take place on this project simply because it WON'T be government money being spent, but an international consortium

 

[Palimino]

The cost wouldn't be bourne solely by this country, the skills are actually here, and will come from all over the world for this project. The unions will have very little to do with this project... and as for politically unstable, I think you need to go and check the real world.. we aren't politically unstable, we're politically vibrant at the moment.

Bwahahahaha!

You might also find that very little in the way of tender corruption will take place on this project simply because it WON'T be government money being spent, but an international consortium.

Whether the gravy train is taxpayer funded (usual) or whether it’s funded by an ‘international consortium’, its still a gravy train. Choo-choo.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Ok... since you have your blinkers on, and live in a little negative bubble.. I'll leave you to think the SKA should not be here..

The rest of us will be happy when at the very least a portion of it is located here, and our scientific community reaps the benefits.