South Africa’s Giant Telescope Receives Award for Diplomacy

Dec. 7--The largest and most powerful single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, the “Southern African Large Telescope” (SALT), was given the “Science Diplomacy Award” Nov. 28 for its “outstanding commitment to advancing science diplomacy” at the 2025 Science Forum in Pretoria. Most scientific organizations work internationally, but few have it as a goal in their founding documents.

This telescope is a source of pride for the entire continent and has become a part of its identity. It is affectionately known as “Africa’s Giant Eye on the Sky.” The diplomacy award was given by South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) in recognition of its role as a symbol of international cooperation. From the beginning, this telescope was designed with several goals in mind. It would clearly be on the forefront of modern astronomy but was also designed to address social and political issues—at home and abroad. When South Africa became a democratic country, some asked if the nation would continue large science projects like SALT, but in 1998 South Africa committed $10 million to fund the project and this was considered a defining moment for South African science. This is a South African-designed and -built telescope and was officially inaugurated in 2005 by then-President Thabo Mbeki.

In its two decades of operations (it just celebrated its 20th birthday earlier this November) this telescope has produced more than 600 peer-reviewed articles in scientific publications, including over 80 articles in 2024 alone. SALT has a long list of discoveries, but it may be most proud of its work on gravitational waves.

The telescope also has the “SALT Collateral Benefits Program,” directed especially at the youth of the country and the world. Frontier research, education, and innovation are combined to drive national progress. SALT has cultivated a vibrant community of African astronomers, engineers, researchers, and more, laying the groundwork for sustained excellence in the region. Over 50 doctoral theses have been produced using SALT data, and hundreds of students have gained hands-on training at the observatory. Many of them now occupy leading positions in research and technology, locally and abroad. This success of SALT was a key factor in South Africa being chosen to host a second massive telescope, the “Square Kilometer Array Telescope” (SKA). This radio telescope will consist of 100 or more radio collection dishes spread across a square kilometer area analyzing mid-range radio frequencies emitted from the Milky Way.

Dr. Mlungisi Cele, Director-General of South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, said that this SALT telescope is a symbol for the country, always looking upward and forward. Dr. Cele said, “[SALT] is a living example that science belongs to everyone and that major discoveries can emerge from African soil.”