Media

Scientists to embark scientific programmes with New Antarctic Telescope Network at 2015 International Collaboration Meeting on Antarctic Survey Telescopes

09 Mar 2015

Antarctic research is one of the highest science research priorities of China.  China has established a permanent research station (Kunlun) at Dome A, the highest point of the Antarctic Plateau.  This scientific site is supported by the coastal station Zhongshan.  The importance of the Antarctic program was evidenced by the recent visit by President Xi to the Xuelong icebreaker at Tasmania before its departure to Antarctica.  As part of the Antarctic research programme, China has been developing a network of telescopes on Dome A with the goal of detecting transient objects and searching for supernovae and Earth-like exoplanets. The first telescope AST3-1 was successfully installed in 2012 and the second telescope AST3-2 was installed in 2015. Data obtained will be posted to the public domain of the Chinese National Arctic and Antarctic Data Center for scientists all over the world to access.

To review the progress and facilitate the plans for future operations, researchers will gather at the annual International Collaboration Meeting on ATS3 from March 9 to 11, 2015. The meeting will be hosted by Professor Sun Kwok, Dean of HKU Science, and chaired by Dr. Li-Fan Wang, Director of the Chinese Center for Antarctic Astronomy.

Members from the press are cordially invited to meet with Dr Li-Fan Wang and other key participating scientists. Details of the media briefing are as follows:

Date: March 11, 2015 (Wednesday)
Time: 12pm to 1pm
Venue: Conference Room 1103, 11/F, the Jocky Club Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

More information of the international collaboration meeting can be viewed at:
http://www.scifac.hku.hk/event/AST3/

For press enquiry, please contact Ms Cindy Chan, Senior Communication Manager of HKU Faculty of Science at 3917 5286 / 67030212 or email: cindycst@hku.hk