Newton STFC-NARIT Capacity Building for Thai Radio Astronomy

泰国正计划对射电天文学进行重大投资，在未来5年内开发一台新的直径40米的射电望远镜（泰国国家射电天文台）。这个设施是泰国研究的一个战略优先事项，因为射电天文学包含了许多对发展中的知识经济有价值的关键技能（工程、电子、信息技术、计算和通信技术）。然而，该项目带来了重大的人力能力和技能发展挑战，因为目前泰国几乎没有能够设计、建造和操作望远镜的射电天文学家或工程师。我们的项目旨在利用英国悠久的传统和高度发达的射电天文学技能来应对这些挑战。英国在世界下一代射电望远镜“平方公里阵列”（Square kilometer Array）中发挥着领导作用，因此在全球发展射电天文学和培养将利用这一长期项目的下一代射电天文学家方面具有高度的战略优先地位。我们将与泰国天文和技术界合作，转让射电天文仪器的具体技术知识，并加强泰国的天文技能基础。我们将开展一项联合计划——培训计划、有针对性地向本科生推广和双边交流，以加强泰国射电天文学社区，并通过射电天文学、所需的计算机技能和仪器方面的培训发展熟练的人力资本。我们的项目不仅将帮助培养泰国国家射电天文台所需的技能，而且还将通过培养电子、信息和通信技术以及先进数据处理方面的熟练毕业生和研究生，对更广泛的经济产生影响。

Thailand is planning a major investment in radio astronomy, with the development of a new 40m diameter radio telescope over the next 5 years (the Thai National Radio Observatory). This facility is a strategic priority for Thai research as radio astronomy incorporates many key skills of value to a developing knowledge economy (engineering, electronics, information technology, computational and communications technology). However the project comes with significant human capacity and skills development challenges in that currently Thailand has few radio astronomers or engineers who can design, construct and operate the telescope. Our project is designed to address these challenges using the UK's long heritage and highly developed skills in radio astronomy. The UK has a leadership role in the world's next generation radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, and so places a high strategic priority on the global development of radio astronomy and the training of future generations of radio astronomers who will exploit this long-term project.We will partner with the Thai astronomical and technical community to transfer specific technical knowledge of radio astronomy instrumentation and to also bolster the Thai astronomical skill base. We will carry out a joint programme programme of training, targeted outreach to undergraduates, and bilateral exchanges to strengthen the Thai radio astronomy community and develop skilled human capital via training in radio astronomy, required computer skills and instrumentation. Our programme will not only help to develop the skills that Thailand needs for the Thai National Radio Observatory but will also have impact on the wider economy through the development of skilled graduates and postgraduates in electronics, information & communications technology and advanced data processing.