Marshak Lectureship Talk: SESAME: An International Collaborative Science Project in the Middle East

In this talk I will speak about the international collaborative science project \textbf{SESAME }(\textbf{S}ynchrotron-light for \textbf{E}xperimental \textbf{S}cience and \textbf{A}pplications in the \textbf{M}iddle \textbf{E}ast). SESAME is being developed under the umbrella of UNESCO and is modeled closely on CERN\textbf{. }The first beam line will be operational in 2012\textbf{.} Several hundred scientists from the region and other parts of the world are expected to use this facility, which will cover disciplines ranging from archaeology to the medical sciences and nanotechnology. The members of SESAME are (Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, \textit{Iran,} \textit{Israel}, \textit{Palestinian Authority}, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey). This makes SESAME a unique multidisciplinary centre in this part of the world. In addition, I will talk about the Nanotechnology Research at Al-Quds University, and my views on science and politics, and international collaboration, in a volatile environment like the Middle East.