Hundreds join biggest ever in-person SKAO science meeting

BY ANNE DANIELS (SKAO)

Six hundred scientists gathered from 16 to 20 June 2025 in the beautiful town of Görlitz, the easternmost point of Germany, and online to prepare for early science with the SKA telescopes.

The SKAO science meeting, hosted in the town’s theatre, attracted scientists from 26 countries with a programme full of updates on user access to the SKA telescopes, news on novel tools and the latest science results from pathfinders.

The week-long gathering spanned the entire town in historic venues, with over 200 talks and 150 posters detailing the vast range of science being conducted across the community, and how astronomers plan to use the SKA telescopes for future discoveries.

“For me the highlight is just the scope of this whole meeting. You see how many people are involved in this project; how many people work and believe in the SKA,” said Yannic Pietschke, a PhD student at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

The German Center of Astrophysics (DZA) has been established in the town, with a new headquarters soon to be built. The DZA will become a hub for SKA science in Germany and their new building will host the country’s SKA Regional Centre Node.

Local community outreach was also an important part of the event. A well-attended public lecture by Prof. Michael Kramer, Germany’s representative on the SKAO Council, gave a glimpse into radio astronomy to around 250 people, while a workshop organised by the SKAO and DZA enabled local children to build their own tabletop radio telescopes and measure the hydrogen gas of our Milky Way from the heart of Görlitz.

“It was an incredible week, walking around and hearing people talk about their science, thinking of new ideas and building collaborations,” said Observatory Scientist Dr Philippa Hartley, Chair of the Scientific Organising Committee.

“It has been particularly exciting to welcome so many early career researchers to the meeting and hear about how the SKA is helping shape their future careers.”

The week culminated with the news – welcomed by rapturous applause – that Prof. Naomi McClure-Griffiths was to become the SKAO’s first chief scientist, a role she took up on 21 July (hear from Naomi on page 54). An in-depth “fireside chat” between her and SKAO DirectorGeneral Prof. Philip Diamond wrapped up the productive and inspiring week.