WHAT IS SESAME?
SESAME (
Synchrotron-light for
Experimental
Science and
Applications in the
Middle
East) is a “third-generation”
synchrotron light source under construction in Allan (Jordan). It will be the Middle East's first major international research centre.
It is a cooperative venture by scientists and governments of the region set up on the model of
CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). It is being developed under the auspices of
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) following the formal approval given for this by the Organization's Executive Board (164th session, 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 neighboring 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; and
- Build scientific and cultural bridges between diverse societies, and contribute to a culture of peace through international cooperation in science.
As an intergovernmental scientific and technological centre of excellence open to all scientists from the Middle East and elsewhere, SESAME will serve as a propeller for the scientific, technical, and economic development of the region and will strengthen collaboration in science.
SESAME will be a widely-available '
user facility'. Scientists, including graduate students, from universities and research institutes will typically visit the Centre for a week or two, twice or three times a year, to carry out experiments, frequently in collaboration with scientists from other centres/countries, and then return home to analyze the data they have obtained. In other words, SESAME will not be a source of brain drain; quite the contrary, not only will the scientists who visit SESAME bring back scientific expertise and knowledge, which they will share with their colleagues and students, but it will also create a motivating scientific environment that will encourage the region's best scientists and technologists to stay in the region or to return if they have moved elsewhere.
The SESAME facility is expected to come into full operation in late 2015 provided the required capital funding for completion of construction of the machine is available on schedule.
MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS OF SESAME
The current (2015) Members of SESAME are Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, and Turkey.
Current Observers (2015) are Brazil, China (People’s Republic of), the European Union, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Through the SESAME
Council, the Members of SESAME have full control over the development and exploitation of the Center, and its financial matters. They have
Benefits and Obligations.
Observers have no duties and their role is more that of an advisory one. They nonetheless have some privileges, for example, they may submit proposals for discussion at Council sessions, their nationals may hold staff positions at SESAME and, whenever possible, invitations to tender for the purchase of equipment and supplies is limited to manufacturers and contractors located within the territories of Members and Observers.
Each Member and Observer may have up to two
Delegates serving on the SESAME Council, ideally one representing his/her Governmental Authorities and the second representing national scientific interests. Both delegates are nominated by their Governmental Authorities. They may be accompanied to Council meetings by up to two
Advisers.
http://www.sesame.org.jo/
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF SESAME
