A Joint Division of the Institution of Civil Engineers and
the South African Institution of Civil Engineering

ICE-SA Afternoon Lecture

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Date & Time: 
Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - 14:00 to 17:00
Description: 

FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT IN THE SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY RADIO TELESCOPE PROJECT

Wednesday 7 October 2015

14h00 to 16h00

Presentation by Dr Rob Adam

Dr Rob Adam has been appointed Director Designate of the South African Square Kilometre Array Radiotelescope, from 1 April 2015. He will assume the Director position on 1 January 2016.

Until recently Rob held the position of Group Executive: Nuclear at the Aveng Group. Prior to joining Aveng, Rob was Chief Executive Officer of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), South Africa's statutory nuclear technology organization. He held this position from 2006 to 2012. Before joining Necsa, Rob was Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology, from 1999 to 2006. Rob has also been a Professor of Physics at both the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa.

Rob serves on the Council of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa and on the Human Resource Development Council and is President of the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa.
Rob has held various academic positions in Europe and South Africa, has published over 30 refereed articles in theoretical physics, published widely on science and technology policy and co-authored a book on science and technology in the Republic of Chile.

FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT IN THE SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY RADIO TELESCOPE PROJECT

The SKA is the most ambitious astronomy project of all time, conceptualized to deliver information about the early universe that will change how we view the cosmos from its origins to its ultimate destiny. At another level the SKA is a global bleeding edge engineering, computing and construction project located in two leading Southern hemisphere countries, South Africa and Australia. The SKA pushes the boundaries in telecommunications, computing, engineering design and construction. For example, data traffic on the system will exceed that on the entire current global internet. Phase 1 of the project is budgeted at R9 billion, and Phase 2 at least five times that amount.

Rob Adam’s talk will explain how this multinational project will be funded, and the principles upon which procurement will be based. Investing countries will want their own companies to benefit, but a balance must be struck between ‘own interest’, costs and engineering systems design. Ignoring the interests of investing countries will cause them to withdraw their funding, but being ruled by these interests will drive up costs and result in systems design being distorted by technologies choices within individual packages.

Venue:   Bytes Technology Centre, Midrand   (Map)

ICE-SA will apply to have the event accredited for ECSA CPD Credits
The Event will be followed by a cocktail function and cash bar to network with others in the industry.

Tea/coffee/fruit juice and light snacks will be available prior to the lecture, with a cash bar after the event.
The Afternoon Presentation is provided by ICE-SA at no charge

 

Duration of Activity: 
3hrs
Presenter: 
Dr Rob Adam: Dr Rob Adam has been appointed Director Designate of the South African Square Kilometre Array Radiotelescope, from 1 April 2015. He will assume the Director position on 1 January 2016. Until recently Rob held the position of Group Executive: Nuclear at the Aveng Group. Prior to joining Aveng, Rob was Chief Executive Officer of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), South Africa's statutory nuclear technology organization. He held this position from 2006 to 2012. Before joining Necsa, Rob was Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology, from 1999 to 2006. Rob has also been a Professor of Physics at both the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa. Rob serves on the Council of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa and on the Human Resource Development Council and is President of the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa. Rob has held various academic positions in Europe and South Africa, has published over 30 refereed articles in theoretical physics, published widely on science and technology policy and co-authored a book on science and technology in the Republic of Chile.
Target Participants: 
Engineers, Technologists, Procurement and Finance Specialists, and any party that is interested in development of innovative approaches to infrastructure procurement, finance and construction.