Guest speaker Naledi Pandor, minister for science and technology of South Africa, expressed her desire for Africa to be seen not just as a "recipient for aid, but a ... home to world class research". Pandor explained how radio astronomy - the study of radio wave-emitting celestial objects such as stars, black holes and galaxies - can drive growth, raise the profile of science and technology among young Africans, and help meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
At the event, reports CORDIS, experts highlighted South Africa's important role in current global astronomy network. The country offers excellent conditions for observation in large territories unaffected by light pollution or radio frequencies. These conditions have made South Africa the perfect home for the southern hemisphere's largest single optical telescope, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). Minister Pandor also expressed her hope that radio astronomy can elevate the status of women within the science community. 'The [Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)] also refer to education and gender; women should enjoy equal access to science and we need to work on decreasing their exclusion.'
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