The Collateral Benefits of SALT

The SAAO is about to embark on the construction of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). This is a major international collaboration for the construction of a 9-m class spectroscopic survey telescope, a twin of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory, Texas. Such a major scientific development on the sub-continent will be used as a focal point to promote science and technology in the region.

One of the ways this will be accomplished is through the construction of a modern Visitor Centre (or ``Stargate") in close proximity to the large telescope. The telescope dome will incorporate a viewing gallery which will allow visitors to experience the full scale of SALT. Since spectroscopy forms the cornerstone of research done by SALT a display called ``Fingerprinting Light" will be incorporated into the centre.

The South African government is funding half of the cost of SALT and as part of the entire project a Collateral Benefits Plan has been drawn up which identifies the benefits of SALT to science, engineering and technology and highlights public outreach and direct educational benefits. South Africa, more so than other developing countries, requires a sustained campaign to promote at all levels of society an awareness and understanding of SET and their importance in the empowerment of individuals and communities to ensure the international competitiveness of the nation. Until recently black people in South Africa had very limited access to SET education, training and careers. The specific objective of the public outreach programme is the enhancement of science education and awareness throughout South African society. Students and citizens of South Africa will be inspired and encouraged by the accomplishments of SALT, (NRF 1999).

The plan identifies several aspects of the SEI that it will support, in particular resource development, teacher training in these resources and the ``Starbus" project. In addition it envisages several public awareness programmes including:

• an Internet site showing SALT under construction,
• an educational video on SALT,
• the creation of SALT models and posters for display at exhibitions and other key public areas such as planetaria, museums and science festivals,
• a daily 2-min radio slot, a southern hemisphere version of the Stardate programme, in collaboration with McDonald Observatory.

© Copyright Astronomical Society of Australia 1997