Nearly 200 experts and scholars from research institutes and universities in China and abroad gathered in Urumqi from November 17 to 20 for the QiTai radio Telescope (QTT) Science and Technology Symposium.
At the opening ceremony, WANG Na, Chief Scientist of the QTT project and Director of the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with YE Shuhua, QTT Project General Consultant and CAS Academician, CUI Xiangqun, Member of the QTT Science and Technology Committee and CAS Academician, and SHI Shengcai, Director of the QTT Science and Technology Committee and CAS Academician, delivered speeches.
WANG Na reflected in her opening address that twelve years ago, the XAO hosted the 429th Xiangshan Meeting in Urumqi, focused on advancing cutting-edge astrophysical research and refining the scientific goals of the QTT project. Now, twelve years later, the symposium aimed to further progress the QTT's development and strengthen the foundation for high-standard construction and scientific outputs.
She emphasized that, from the initiation of the QTT project to its construction phase, it has received strong support from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region local government, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and experts in related fields. Currently, the QTT project has successfully entered the antenna structure installation stage. Wang Na also gave a lecture, providing an overview of the QTT project and sharing the latest progress in its construction.
YE Shuhua, CUI Xiangqun, and SHI Shengcai shared their strong expectations for the QTT project, praising the remarkable development of the XAO. They emphasized that the QTT not only fulfills the aspirations of multiple generations of astronomers but also embodies the spirit of relentless pursuit of progress and innovation. They expressed hope that the QTT would be successfully completed and achieve new heights of scientific achievement.
The participants delivered 59 presentations on diverse topics related to the QTT, including pulsars, neutral hydrogen, molecular clouds and star formation, the interstellar medium, astrochemistry, planetary science, transient sources, gravitational wave detection, VLBI high-precision astrometry, and dark matter. Additionally, discussions addressed key technologies for constructing large-aperture radio telescopes.
After visiting the QiTai Station, the experts expressed growing confidence in the successful completion of the QTT project.
The QTT is expected to play a significant role in enhancing major scientific research infrastructure along the "Belt and Road" initiative, paving the way for a brighter future in both astronomical research and technological advancement in China.
