China may have the humankind ’s largest radio telescope in the world , but they ’re ostensibly scat into a few problem . Namely , they ca n’t recover someone to run it .
Known as the Five - hundred - meter Aperture Spherical wireless Telescope ( FAST ) , China open up this huge dish inSeptember 2016to study the cosmos . Among its numerous goals , it will be used to look for signals from extraterrestrial life and study black holes .
Upon completion , the $ 178 - million FAST observation tower became the large operational telescope in the world , with its dish traverse 500 m ( 1,600 foundation ) , as its name suggest . It made use of a natural sinkhole in the Guizhou region of China , although some locals had to be relocated tomake wayfor it .
Now , however , it has emerged that China ca n’t find someone to go the scope . They ’ve been advertise the job of chief scientist for an one-year salary of $ 1.2 million , but there have been no taker so far . It ’s reported that China was looking for a foreigner because no astronomer at dwelling had the expertness to work the telescope .
“ The post is presently open to scientist play outside China only , ” a human resources functionary at the Chinese Academy of Science ( CAS ) , which possess the scope , told theSouth China Morning Post . “ Candidates can be of any nationality , any raceway . ”
For many , that could be a rather exciting opportunity . However , Ars Technicanotes that there are only about 40 people in the earthly concern who could have the necessary requirements for the chore . These include 20 years of experience in the field , and experience managing a large - exfoliation radio project .
China has denied reports they have been looking for a noncitizen to start the telescope , despite the seemingly direct quote from the HR official . In a station on Sina Weibo yesterday , as reported by the Department of State - runGlobal Times , they said there was no such posting for the job , and it had been satisfy since July 2016 . This chief scientist has not been describe .
Presuming it does break away swimmingly , FAST should be reasonably utile . Its vast collecting power will enable it to gather radiocommunication waves from upstage sources , much like the Arecibo observation tower did in the US .
“ Having a more sensible scope , we can take in weaker and more upstage radio message , ” CAS Director - General Wu Xiangping saidin 2015 . “ It will serve us to explore for intelligent life-time outside of the extragalactic nebula and research the origins of the world . ”
