The Italian Consul in Western Australia, Sergio Federico Nicolaci, paid an official visit to the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (Skao), a world-class astronomical research facility located in the Western Australian desert, of which Italy is a founding member.
During the visit, reports a statement, Consul Nicolaci met with the heads of the observatory, whose founding treaty was signed in Rome in 2019, viewing the progress in the installation of the first low-frequency antennas of the SKA-LOW telescope, designed by the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) in collaboration with the Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni (CNR - IEIIT) and produced in Italy by Sirio Antenne, which won the contract to manufacture the telescope's first 77,000 antennas.
"It is a source of pride to see the progress in the realisation of this extraordinary scientific project, in which our country is at the forefront," said Nicolaci. "Italy's participation in the development of one of the largest and most advanced radio telescopes in the world, with our financial commitment of €120 million over ten years, confirms the importance of investment in research and development and Italy's enduring leadership in advanced technology. International collaborations in science and technology are fundamental not only to promote the advancement of knowledge, but also to strengthen friendship and knowledge between the nations involved.
The SKA-LOW telescope represents a revolution in the field of radio astronomy. Once completed, it will comprise 131,072 antennas spread over an area of 74 kilometres, which will allow even the faintest radio signals from the universe to be detected and combined in a way that has never been possible before. Consul Nicolaci's visit is part of the deepening and promotion of scientific and technological cooperation between Italy and Australia, under the driving force of the Italian Embassy in Canberra.
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