Development of multi-wavelength astronomy in South Africa on the pathway to the SKA, LSST and CTA.

在21世纪的世纪，天体物理学是一个多学科交叉的领域。与传统的孤独天文学家用肉眼观察望远镜的形象不同，天文学涵盖了整个电磁频谱，包括光学和电子工程，高速信号处理，处理巨大数据集的高性能计算和先进的数值模拟。所有这些都是复杂的智力活动;所有这些都是解决现代天文学物理问题所不可或缺的;除了其基础研究的核心价值外，所有这些都在培训年轻科学家和开发先进技术方面具有巨大的社会效益。平方公里阵列（SKA）将成为世界上最大和最有能力的射电天文台。这是南非的一个旗舰项目，是该国建造的第一个国际科学设施。它被强调为将南非年轻人带入高科技领域的项目。南非SKA通过NRF和RSA政府，正在提供从工程到运营和天文学研究的所有就业层次的培训。在这种背景下，南非的天体物理学界正在迅速发展，从一个主要集中在传统光学天文学的小基地。我们建议一个博士交换项目。学生将体验天体物理学的各种多波长技术和观测方面，沿着大数据分析，理论和模拟。在我们的交流计划中，来自牛津大学的10名学生和来自RSA大学的匹配数量的学生将由主办机构和合作机构的学者共同监督。每个学生将花六个月的时间，通常是在他们博士学位的中间部分，在合作机构直接与他们的共同主管合作。我们亦会安排导师互访计划，以及每年在牛津和南非举办网络工作坊，以建立两地的长远合作关系。

In the 21st century, astrophysics is a multidisciplinary field. Far from the traditional image of the lone astronomer viewing though a telescope with the naked eye, astronomy covers the whole electromagnetic spectrum with an interdependent range of activities including optical and electronic engineering, high-speed signal processing, high-performance computing for processing huge data sets, and advanced numerical simulations. All are sophisticated intellectual endeavours; all are integral to addressing the physics questions of modern astronomy; and all have huge societal benefit in the training of young scientists and development of advanced technologies, in addition to their core value of fundamental research.The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the world's largest and most capable radio observatory. It is a flagship project in South Africa, being the first international science facility built in the country. It is being highlighted as the project to bring young South Africans into high-tech areas. The South African SKA, through the NRF and RSA government, is providing training across all levels of employment, from engineering through operations and astronomy research. In this background the astrophysics community in South Africa is growing rapidly, from a small base concentrating mostly on traditional optical astronomy. We propose an exchange programme for Ph.D. students in which they will experience the wide variety of multi-wavelength technical and observational aspects of astrophysics, along with big data analysis, theory and simulations. In our exchange programme ten students from Oxford, and a matching number from the RSA universities, will be jointly supervised by academics at their host institution and at the partner institution. Each student will spend six months, typically in the middle part of their Ph.D., at the partner institute working directly with their co-supervisor. We will also arrange a programme of supervisor exchange visits, and annual network workshops in both Oxford and South Africa, to build up the collaborative ties between the two communities for the long term.