Curtin University and the UAE University (UAEU) revealed yesterday (19 October) joint plans to develop the region’s first radio array observatory in Al Ain, through a strategic research-and-development collaboration between Australia and the UAE. The universities outlined their plans at the UAE-Australia Partnerships in Radio Astronomy event, held at the Australia Pavilion.Professor Steven Tingay, Astrophysicist and Executive Director of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA) at Curtin University, said the observatory will create an impressive new radio astronomy presence in the UAE and build a partnership between the two countries that can be carried into the future.The UAEU Radio Astronomy Pathway Project will provide the UAE with the space to develop research and collect data, positioning the country as a key player in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project to build the world’s largest radio telescope, which will be used to explore the universe. With the work carried out at the new observatory, the UAE will be able to join Australia, Canada, China, Japan and the USA in constructing and operating the SKA telescopes.The observatory will also allow students from across the country to launch projects in radio astronomy, space and solar physics, and to track and monitor space objects.Professor Aquib Moin, Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics, UAE University, said: “The UAE’s leadership and the people who have a vision for the country have started to tilt towards STEM and a knowledge-based economy. In doing so, there were a number of areas that were identified that the UAE wants to make progress in. One of the areas is space sciences and the recent developments that you see are a result of that ambition.“As part of the government’s vision, the idea was to engage universities, the academia, in order to come along on the journey and be a part of it, and to provide the human resources and train the youngsters to be a part of that initiative. As part of that, multiple universities made efforts on their end to align themselves with the national vision.”