Australia and South Africa are vying for international telescope

Astronomy committee works to attract science delegates

Posted Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:08pm AEST


The chairman of Western Australia's Radio Astronomy Committee says he is working to attract 100 delegates from the international science world to visit the mid-west next year.
Shane Hill, who is also the Labor Party's Member for Geraldton, has returned from an international tour promoting Australia as the best site to host the $2 billion Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope.
Australia and South Africa are vying for the international telescope.
Boolardy Station, north-east of Geraldton, is the chosen Australian site.
Mr Hill says he is confident he has been able to convince the scientists he met during his tour to come to Geraldton.
"Discussions are happening as we speak now," he said.
"Obviously UWA [University of WA] is very important with that, with Professor Peter Quinn who is going to be the host for that.
"So I'm hopeful in the next couple of weeks we can confirm that we will play host to that delegation."