Jessica Dempsey has been appointed as the new Director-General of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope project. This appointment marks a milestone in the construction and future operation of a global scientific infrastructure that promises to revolutionize our understanding of the universe.

The SKAO is designed to explore the cosmos with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, allowing astronomers to study phenomena such as the formation of the first stars and galaxies, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and the search for extraterrestrial life. With sites in Australia and South Africa, the observatory will combine thousands of antennas to create a collecting area equivalent to one square kilometer.

Dempsey's experience in large astronomical projects will be crucial in guiding the SKAO through its construction and commissioning phases, ensuring that the observatory reaches its full scientific potential. The SKAO is expected to begin its initial scientific operations later this decade, opening a new window to the radio-frequency universe.