High Brilliance, High Impact: Science at SESAME

by Andrea Lausi (Scientific Director, SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East)

Tuesday 1 Dec 2026, 16:00 → 18:00 Europe/Rome

Aula Conversi (Dip. di Fisica - Edificio G. Marconi)

SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the
Middle East) is a “third-generation” synchrotron light source that was officially
opened in Allan (Jordan) on 16 May 2017. It is the first synchrotron light source in
the Middle East, and the Region’s first major international centre of excellence. It is a
cooperative venture by scientists and governments of the Region (an
intergovernmental agreement among Cyprus, Egypt, Jordany, Iran, Israel, Pakistan,
Palestine and Turkey) set up on the model of CERN and developed under the
auspices of UNESCO.
SESAME provides an unparalleled advantage for regional scientific development,
bridging gaps in access to advanced research tools and stimulating growth in fields
critical to the Region, such as environmental science, health care, and cultural
heritage. SESAME's five beamlines —spanning infrared, soft X-rays and hard X-rays— open new doors for in-depth research that would be otherwise limited by
conventional laboratory equipment.
The Infrared (IR) beamline, for instance, allows researchers to study molecular
vibrations at microscopic scales, vital for fields like health care applications: it uses
the IR components of synchrotron emission for the identification and imaging of
vibrational modes of molecular components at microscopic scale. The applications
cover a wide range of research fields, including life sciences, pharmaceuticals,
diagnostics, environmental science, materials science, archaeology, cultural
heritage, and art restoration, amongst others.
SESAME enhances research accessibility in the Middle East and fosters research
collaborations, accelerates scientific findings, and promotes innovation within a
context of local challenges, making it a cornerstone for sustainable scientific
advancement in the Region. Furthermore SESAME demonstrates how science can
become a bridge of cooperation, resilience, and shared vision in the Middle East.