SESAME: Scientific Excellence in the Middle East

The SESAME international centre for scientific research, a competitive synchrotron light source and the first in the Middle East and neighbouring countries, was inaugurated in Allan, Jordan, on 16 May 2017. This pioneering project, established under the auspices of UNESCO, is the result of fourteen years of hard work, uniting eight countries around a twofold goal – to consolidate scientific excellence in the region and to build cross-border collaboration, dialogue and understanding between scientists with diverse cultural, political and religious backgrounds.