SKA’s dual impact on South African science

The mega-telescope project has generated investment, but at what cost to other subjects?

On 16 December the United Kingdom ratified the convention to establish the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. It was the last country that needed to do so for the astronomy project to be recognised as an intergovernmental organisation. 

For South Africa it is the end of the beginning of a process that started nearly two decades ago, one that that has brought great prestige and great costs.