Western Australian Minister for Science and Innovation visits the MRO

Visitors to the MRO. (L-R) Diane Forde, Steven Tingay, Minister John Day, Robin Boddington, Alec Coles, James Wyatt. Credit: Barry Turner, CSIRO.
Tasso Tzioumis (left) explains the operation of the MASER and its importance in the work of astronomy, in particular for VLBI observations. Credit: Barry Turner, CSIRO.

21 May 2011

On 21 May, the Western Australian Minister for Science and Innovation, the Hon. John Day, visited the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) along with Mr Alec Coles (Western Australia Museum), Mr James Wyatt (Western Australia Department of Commerce), Professor Steven Tingay (Curtin University) and Ms Diane Forde.

The visit was hosted by CSIRO MRO site manager Barry Turner and ASKAP Aboriginal Liaison Officer Robin Boddington. The site tour included a "Welcome to Country" by Robin, a visit to the six ASKAP antennas currently constructed on site and an explanation of the antenna construction process, engineering features and ASKAP science.

The visitors also travelled across the MRO to visit the MWA (Murchison Widefield Array) precursor instrument before a short visit to the top of the nearby breakaway for a panoramic view of the MRO.

The visitors were all interested in the opportunity to see the MRO, the works currently underway on ASKAP and the potential of the MRO to be Australia and New Zealand’s candidate site for the central 'core' of the future SKA.

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