About the Workshop
Tackling the Big Data Universe: Signal Processing and Imaging using the MeerKAT Telescope
About the Workshop
Modern radio telescopes such as MeerKAT and the upcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA) produce extremely large astronomical datasets requiring advanced techniques in signal processing, imaging, computation, and scientific data analysis.
This workshop is designed to introduce engineering students and early-stage researchers to the foundational principles of radio astronomy and the engineering challenges associated with modern radio telescopes.
The workshop combines introductory lectures, demonstrations, guided hands-on sessions, and team-based exploration of MeerKAT datasets.
Objectives
Introduce participants to the basic principles of radio astronomy
Familiarize students with handling large astronomical datasets
Demonstrate signal processing and imaging techniques used in radio astronomy
Provide exposure to Python and CASA-based analysis workflows
Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering and astronomy
Identify motivated students for future research opportunities
Target Audience
Workshop Format
- Introductory lectures
- Demonstrations
- Guided hands-on sessions
- Team-based projects
- Participant presentations and discussions
Expected Outcomes
- Foundational understanding of radio astronomy
- Exposure to MeerKAT datasets and analysis pipelines
- Confidence in scientific data handling
- Understanding of big-data challenges in astronomy
- Identification of potential candidates for future research collaborations