Photo: Prof. Rolf-Dieter Heuer delivering the lecture
On 8 November Prof. Rolf-Dieter Heuer delivered a public lecture at the University of Malta on CERN, SESAME and science cooperation. Prof Heuer had the opportunity to meet a few of our academics whose research overlapped with his expertise and to discuss or explore how the UM may benefit from SESAME.
Who is Prof. Heuer?
is an experimental particle physicist and has been CERN Director-General from January 2009 to December 2015. He also actively engaged CERN in promoting the importance of science and STEM education for the sustainable development of the society.
From April 2016 until April 2018, he was the President of the German Physical Society. From 2017 to 2020 he was the Chair of the which provides independent and high quality scientific advice to the College of European Commissioners.
He is currently President of the Council of the synchrotron light-source facility called SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East.
Prof. Heuer has published over 500 scientific papers and holds many Honorary Degrees from universities in Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. He is a member of several Academies of Sciences in Europe, in particular of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and Honorary Member of the European Physical Society. He received the Grand Cross first class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by the French Republic, and received the Order for merits to Lithuania.
About SESAME
(Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) is a synchrotron light source and accelerator-based facility that uses electromagnetic radiation emitted by circulating electron beams to study a range of properties of matter.
It is equipped with beamlines that focus the light on samples that scientists wish to study. There are some 50 light sources in operation in more than 20 countries serving around 50,000 scientists.
SESAME, officially opened on 16 May in 2017 is situated near Amman (Jordan). It is not only the first light source in the region, but also its first true international centre of excellence. It is modeled on CERN (although it has very different scientific aims).
The main objectives of SESAME are:
- Fostering scientific and technological excellence in the Middle East and neighbouring regions by enabling world-class research in subjects ranging from medicine and biology, through materials science, physics and chemistry to healthcare, the environment and archaeology,
- Building bridges between neighbouring countries and fostering mutual understanding and tolerance through international cooperation, and
- Helping to prevent and reverse the brain drain that is holding back science education and research in the region.
There are now (July 2021) 998 users registered on SESAME’s database. The potential user community, which continues to grow rapidly, is being fostered by a series of Users’ Meetings and by excellent training opportunities which are already bringing significant benefits to the region.
In 2019 SESAME’s solar power plant was inaugurated, and now SESAME is the world’s first large accelerator complex to be fully powered by renewable energy thus making it the world’s first carbon neutral accelerator laboratory. A visit of the SESAME Centre may be organised on request.
More information about SESAME is available .
