Ngarlbugala 2023 AusSRC update

2023 marked many monumental milestones at the AusSRC.

It’s official

The Australian SKAO Regional Centre (AusSRC) partners – CSIRO, Curtin University, Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, and the University of Western Australia – signed on the dotted line to make AusSRC a joint venture. We held a signing ceremony that coincided with the SKAO Council visit in October, which meant we had international and interstate visitors in attendance.

Five people in office wear stand on a stage holding a framed signature page from an agreement. Behind is a screen displaying the AusSRC logo surrounded by the Australian Government, CSIRO, Curtin University, Pawsey and The University of Western Australia logos.

Five people in office wear stand on a stage holding a framed signature page from an agreement. Behind is a screen displaying the AusSRC logo surrounded by the Australian Government, CSIRO, Curtin University, Pawsey and The University of Western Australia logos.

AusSRC partner representatives Mark Stickells (Pawsey), Prof Steven Tingay (Curtin), Patricia Kelly (AusSRC interim board chair), Prof Peter Quinn (UWA) and Dr Douglas Bock (CSIRO) at the signing ceremony. Credit: AusSRC.

This marks the next step in the journey of the AusSRC, as we unlock funding granted to us by the Australian Government to build, operate, and maintain the AusSRC over the next decade. Prior to this, the AusSRC had operated on a three-year Design Study Program funded by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and CSIRO, alongside in-kind contributions from the other AusSRC partners.

We now embark on the next 10 years of the AusSRC program by building the long-term foundations of the global SKAO Regional Centres Network that will enable science with the two SKA telescopes.

The collaborative network of SKAO Regional Centres is responsible for collating and post-processing all the data from SKA-Low and distributing it to the rest of the world. From there, scientific observations can be made by scientists anywhere in the world.

Building connections

Astrofest 2023 rolled around again, with the AusSRC joining forces alongside the SKAO and CSIRO teams to make a super stall about all things SKA. We received many delightful questions about the project from all age groups.

Two people in smart casual dress with Astrofest volunteer lanyards around their necks stand to the right of a large poster board displaying a world map with strings of bright LED lights connecting USA to Europe, China, southern Africa and Australia.

Two people in smart casual dress with Astrofest volunteer lanyards around their necks stand to the right of a large poster board displaying a world map with strings of bright LED lights connecting USA to Europe, China, southern Africa and Australia.

Visualising the data network of the SKA Regional Centres with bright lights at Perth Astrofest. Credit: AusSRC.

For the AusSRC part, we had a LED light display showing the data flowing and between the different regional centres and SKA telescopes that make up the global network. It was interactive and helped explain how we are building a global network for the future. The data volumes produced by the telescopes will be huge, so there is plenty of work to do.

The AusSRC team will continue to grow in 2024. We welcome Kathryn Barker, Business Manager, as our newest colleague and the first member of our management team.

We have recently been recruiting for Head of Software Development, Senior Project Scientist and Head of Operations, so many new faces will join the AusSRC next year. Our leaders are building and growing their own teams, and we are collectively working towards our big picture of delivering data from the SKA to scientists globally. If you’d like to keep an eye out for jobs at the AusSRC, all information is posted on our website.

Wishing you a safe and festive holiday season from all of us at the AusSRC.

Kate Holmes, Communications and Events Officer, AusSRC