[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/6609\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMid-East particle accelerator is \u2018lighthouse\u2019 for mutual understanding \u2013 co-founder\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat does the start of the SESAME particle accelerator in Jordan mean for science in the Middle East?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018For many of the scientists in the region it is very difficult to get time on the top-of-the-line machines (particle accelerators) like those in Italy, France, the UK and Germany for two reasons. First, because their countries are in most cases not members, or associate members, of those organisations, and second because it is very, very competitive. So by having a regional machine, they have now new opportunities and these are opportunities which would enable them to train their students better and do their own research on a world-class machine.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou are a theoretical physicist interested in string theory. What motivated you to get involved in setting up a particle accelerator that will be used as a light source to examine the structure of biological molecules?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Since I was a child, as an Israeli \u2026 our teachers were those who had survived the Holocaust. We were taught that our role was to contribute for the benefit of our country, our people and humanity. And definitely to be able to contribute for the wellbeing of our region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018In my field of high-energy physics, because our field requires large resources, we have learned to collaborate. I was fortunate to be allowed by society to participate in my curiosity-driven research. I feel it is our duty to try and give back to society when we can. One of the things we can do in my region is try to use science as a bridge for understanding.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIn SESAME, you have collaborations between countries that have had very problematic relationships. What were those collaborations like? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Politics very rarely entered into our discussions. There were three times over the 20 years (it took to set up SESAME) where I remember the politics attempted to enter, and the SESAME Council adopted a resolution that it will not debate or issue statements on any political issues. And I think this enabled us to communicate more as human beings.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECould you say what the three times were?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo. I can say that one was in Paris, one was in Amman (Jordan) and one was in Cairo, but it had nothing to do with the Egyptians. So in three places there was a danger that politics threatened the fibre of SESAME, but we overcame it, and I hope we became stronger by overcoming it.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWe hear this phrase science diplomacy. How has SESAME contributed to science diplomacy in the Middle East?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We have shown that you can persist and stick together for a common cause for over two decades. And I think that is a major contribution and can serve as an inspiration for other people who also would like in one way or another to manifest their will to build bridges.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow can SESAME help these people who want to build bridges, and what kinds of bridges will they build?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018First of all SESAME reached a decision that any activity in what we call the SESAME spirit we welcome to take place at SESAME. So things which are totally not related to light-source research but which have in them the idea of building bridges in the region are most welcome to hold activities at SESAME.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018What other activities? I think this one we will have to leave to people which will come after us. I think we are providing an arena.\u2019\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003E\u2018I think that what the younger generation can take from us is that a group of dedicated, idealistic people can sometimes make a small dent.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EProfessor Eliezer Rabinovici, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s next for SESAME?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018My real goal is that research worthy of the Nobel Prize will be done at this place. This will require both improving the machine, and upgrading and increasing the number of beamlines so that more scientists can get involved. These are the two directions.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat difference has SESAME made for Middle East governments, what change could it effectuate?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018I am not na\u00efve, I know that a small group of people cannot really change the course of history. But I think that we built a small lighthouse that people could gain support from when they try to embark on future projects which are in the same spirit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/bit.ly\/newsalertsignup\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/horizon-magazine.eu\/research-and-innovation\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/news-alert-final.jpg\u0022 width=\u0022983\u0022 height=\u0022222\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018More than the politicians, I think the younger generation, which lives in the world in general and specifically in our region, unlike in my generation, does not really have a firm internal belief that they can change how things are. The systems look too alienated and too over-constrained. I think that what the younger generation can take from us is that a group of dedicated, idealistic people can sometimes make a small dent. And then how others use the dent, or not, is really up to them.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cfigure role=\u0022group\u0022 class=\u0022@width100@\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cimg alt=\u0022The length and type of each accelerator defines the type of research that can be carried out, from the production of X-rays to colliding quarks. \u0022 height=\u00221834\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/horizon-magazine.eu\/research-and-innovation\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/europe-particle-accelerators.jpg\u0022 title=\u0022The length and type of each accelerator defines the type of research that can be carried out, from the production of X-rays to colliding quarks. \u0022 width=\u00222048\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022tw-italic tw-mb-4\u0022\u003EThe length and type of each accelerator defines the type of research that can be carried out, from the production of X-rays to colliding quarks.\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIf you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022moreinfoblock\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ch3\u003EThe Issue\u003C\/h3\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EA synchrotron light source is a circular, football pitch-sized machine which uses powerful magnetic fields to shoot electrons to almost the speed of light.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\u0022font-size: 13.008px;\u0022\u003EThe light produced by a synchrotron, called a beamline, is shined at materials, allowing scientists to work out their internal structure.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) project was launched in 2002 to foster a culture of peace and cooperation, and i\u003Cspan style=\u0022font-size: 13.008px;\u0022\u003Ets members currently include Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority and Turkey.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022font-size: 13.008px;\u0022\u003EThe EU has spent over EUR 15 million supporting SESAME, making it the second-biggest contributor after Jordan.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-pvra8a4c00xd8nzkgzazzafhnhcriyefgje6nxqi5ri\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-PVra8A4c00Xd8nZKGZaZzAFhNhcrIyeFGJe6NXqI5RI\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]