EPPCN meeting – Prague May 12, 2014

Avital Baer

SESAME – Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East

Allaan, Jordan

• SESAME is a “third-generation” synchrotron light source under construction in Allan (Jordan). It will be the Middle East's first major international research center

• It is a cooperative venture by scientists and governments of the region set up on the model of CERNbeing developed under the auspices of UNESCO (United Nations Organization) following the formal approval given for this by the Organization's Executive Board (May 2002).

• It is an autonomous intergovernmental organization at the service of its Members which have full control over its development, exploitation and financial matters.

• SESAME will both:

• Foster scientific and technological excellence in the Middle East and neighbouring countries (and prevent or reverse the brain drain) by enabling world-class scientific research in subjects ranging from biology, archaeology and medical sciences through basic properties of materials science, physics, chemistry, and life sciences

& • Build scientific and cultural bridges between diverse

societies, and contribute to a culture of peace through international cooperation in science.

Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, and Turkey.

Current Observers (2014):Brazil, China (People’s Republic of), France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

Few Facts:

• November 1995 - MESC's efforts to promote regional cooperation in science, and also solidarity and peace, started in with the organization in Dahab (Egypt).

Birth of the Idea• early 1980's - The need for an international synchrotron light

source in the Middle East was recognized by eminent scientists such as the Pakistani Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam in the and the CERN and MESC (Middle East Scientific Cooperation) group.

• Turin, Italy 1997 - in a second MESC seminar, to which 31 scientists from Israel and the Arab States were invited =decided to go forward in moving BESSY I to the Middle East.

Launching of the project• April 2000 - At a meeting in Geneva, Jordan was selected as the

seat of the Center( in a competition with five other countries from the region)

• May 2002, the Executive Board of UNESCO approved the establishment of SESAME under the auspices of the Organization (UNESCO invited the Organization's Member States to become Members or Observers of SESAME)

• Donation of BESSY I components•

2002-3 The idea of basing an international synchrotron light source in the Middle East on the components of the BESSY I (Berlin Electron Storage Ring Company for Synchrotron Radiation) machine

• 2006-2008 – funds from EU + IAEA

• 2008-9 – Labs from all over the world donating components (= 20 M $)

some of the Donated Equipment :

• From LURE, France– Beamline, undulator• From SLS, Switzerland– Beamline, wiggler• From Daresbury Lab & University of Liverpool, UK– Five beamlines → day 1 Proton crystallography and XAFS/X-ray

fluorescence beamlines• From SLAC, Stanford University, USA– Undulator,…• From ALS, Bekeley, USA– Wiggler• From LBNL, USA– Wiggler• From Elettra, Italy– Cavities

• 2007 - SESAME’s Council decides to upgrade beamlines to 2.5 Gev.

• November 2008 – Building inauguration ! @ Festive ceremony

• 2010 –2012 Israeli gov. giving 5M $– Iran, Turkey & Jordan – decided matching each 5 M$ @ 5 years

• 2013-4…..

16

5MJuly 2012

Italy Donation2014 – 1 M

2015 – additional 1 M

2016-2018 – pledge + 3 M (according to project progress)

There are challenges

• Completing building the Machine to the higher standards according to user-scientists demands

• Increasing the number of member countries from the Gulf & the Mahgreb

• Compensating the differences in the human and financial resources of the member countries

• Solutions to some practical problems involving travel restrictions in the region

• Ongoing/Stable financial support

• Funding for main ring and adaptation/upgrading of beamlines

But the outlook is good with commissioning possible in 2016

thanks especially to HM King Abdullah II, Director Toukan, CERN, UNESCO, IAEA, and those who have donated equipment, especially BESSY 1

SESAME

SESAME• A world class competitive synchrotron radiation

laboratory

• Providing non-discriminating scientific environment for working together

• Interdisciplinary research; an environment for collaborations as well as individual development

• Exploiting local advantages

• A place to which expatriate scientists can return

• Contribute to development of local economy

SESAME

Conclusion:science can help building political bridges, for which strong scientific foundations are essential !

Thank You : )