SOUTH AFRICA: Top UK astronomer suspended

The suspension in South Africa of internationally recognised British astronomer Professor Phil Charles has stunned the astronomy community and raised concerns about this country's relationship with international scientists. It might also undermine South Africa's bid against Australia to host the world's biggest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

The National Research Foundation (NRF) temporarily suspended Charles, who is director of the South African Astronomical Observatory, late last month. He led the development of the South African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland, which is operated by the Observatory and has attracted world-leading astronomers.

Charles is a former head of astrophysics at Oxford University and is currently on leave from the University of Southampton, which has a leading research centre in high-energy astrophysics. He moved to South Africa in 2004, and last year had his contract renewed by the NRF until late 2011.

Scientists have greeted his suspension with outrage, according to the respected science magazine Nature.

NRF Vice-President Dr Gatsha Mazithulela said in an internal memo - now in the public domain - that the suspension was related to "the leaking of confidential NRF documents, or contents from those documents" to South African and international academics - an allegation that Charles denies.

The NRF is relating the issue to its efforts to improve corporate governance. A disciplinary hearing into the suspension will begin on Thursday.

But it appears that at the heart of the tussle is the proposed location of the operational centre of SKA and MeerKAT, the 80-dish Karoo Array Telescope that is the forerunner to SKA.

The Mail & Guardian newspaper reported this week that Charles had told colleagues Observatory suburb in Cape Town was his preferred site for the SKA headquarters as it is close to universities and the project will depend on numerous scientists. The paper said the NRF's preferred site was Ysterplaat, an Air Force base.

South Africa and Australia are hotly competing to host the R20 billion (US$$2.6 billion) SKA radio telescope, the world's largest telescope-to-be and a huge global science initiative that will involve 16 countries. South Africa has committed $250 million to constructing MeerKAT's array of 80 radio dishes that would become part of an African SKA comprising 1,000 dishes spread across several countries.

The NRF has distanced Charles from the SKA bid, which is headed by Bernie Fanaroff. But suspending South Africa's top astronomer just two years before a decision on the bid is due could be damaging, especially if his suspension is made permanent.

Also, the opposition Democratic Alliance's shadow science and technology minister Marian Shinn, MP, told University World News: "Scientists fear that the action against Charles will change South Africa's relationship with international scientists.

"It goes against the grain of what science is all about. Scientists believe in consulting widely while the NRF is being secretive and trying to control the communication that scientists can do." The NRF did not respond to a call from University World News.

Scientists have claimed that the suspension of Charles reflects tensions between scientists and administrators at the NRF.

In his memo, Mazithulela said the NRF had no intention of fundamentally changing its leadership from excellent scientists to administrators, but needed to "extend management responsibilities to fully include the necessary corporate governance functions".

Also, he said, consultations on a site for the headquarters of SKA and MeerKAT were ongoing - they are reportedly to be discussed soon at an NRF workshop.

"The misinterpretation of the order of approvals and the leaking of internal documents or information has, unfortunately, caused undue distress amongst our local and international partners," Mazithulela wrote.