Session transcript · Topic 5 · Dr. Chris Llewellyn Smith · former CERN Director General
Overview
SESAME shows how regional scientific infrastructure can build scientific capacity while creating practical opportunities for collaboration across political divides.
Key ideas
- Science diplomacy includes science in diplomacy, diplomacy for science and science for diplomacy.
- CERN and SESAME demonstrate how technical collaboration can build bridges.
- SESAME combines research capacity-building with international cooperation in the Middle East.
- Long-term scientific cooperation needs stable funding, trust and perseverance.
Why SESAME matters
SESAME is presented as an example of science for diplomacy: a research facility in Jordan that creates scientific capacity and practical collaboration among researchers from countries with political differences. The session also compares the model with CERN and reflects on funding, trust and long-term institution-building.