Scientific infrastructure Scientific infrastructure in and beyond Europein and beyond Europe

Herwig SchopperHerwig SchopperUNESCO – IBSP, CERN, SESAMEUNESCO – IBSP, CERN, SESAME

Capacity building

What does it mean?• Formation of scientists is necessary

(“human capital”, fellowships, exchange programs, etc)

• But Infrastructure is indispensable

•in EU programs practically nothing for infrastructure of basic science:•Nothing in previous Framework Programs•Some funds for hardware in mission programs

in technology (IT),

use of large facilities

Natural Sciences

• are phenomenology based need equipment (experimental equipment, books, IT networks)

• even theorists need it (libraries, computers)

Without research facilities at home scientists cannot benefit from training

→ disappointment, frustration, emigration,

brain drain

Failures and unsatisfactory situationlearn from errors

Including new EU Members• “Rebuilding of Research in South East Europe”

by ROSTE-UNESCO, proposals, 2002, some good effectsMinisterial Conference : no great success,no sponsor meeting (other such conferences good)

• Creating a regional research centre(e.g. by Octagon states, Austron), no agreement reached among scientists, failed

• Participation in large European organizations (e.g. CERN, ESO,EMBL) is still unsatisfactory (but good in various countries, in some fields)

works more or less in Western Europebut improvement possible,

• strengthen it in East and South East Europe,

• but should also be extended beyond Europe to neighboring regions

(many scientific and political reasons)

e.g. Mediterranean region, Middle East

The use of regional and international facilities

What else should be done?

The ERC should make it possible to:• provide minimal equipment for universities

e.g. computers, links to outside, data analysis, small accelerators, spectrometers, etc

• Help to create some centers of excellence (regional or international)serve as reference for standards of quality

• A European Technical University??In a new member state ? (France, Poland) Interlinked with existing institutions

(e.g. CERN, EMBL, ESO, ESA)

3 Examplesand what to learn from them for

international use of infrastucture

• UNESCO International Basic Science Program IBSP

• CERN: from European institute to global international cooperation with unique facilities

• SESAME: medium size facility for Middle East with strong links to Europe

UNESCO International Basic Sciences Programme IBSP

UNESCO Flagship ActivityFirst round just started,

General Conferenceapproved its future strategy (October 2005)

First UN Program dedicated to Basic Sciences and Science EducationNot for fellowships, but project orientedprovides exactly what is needed, but at low financial level

310 Applications for Projects, 39 recommended for 2005/2007

11Western Europe

3981120Total

11245Eastern Europe

14446Latin America + Caribbean

734Asia + Pacific

11Arab States

55Africa

Sum321Region Priority

Great interest !

Almost all projects concern experimental activities, no fellowships

Future strategy(major issues)

concentrate region-specific actions involving networks of national, regional and international centres of excellence;

actions based on projects fostering regional and/or international cooperation in development-oriented areas;

transfer of excellence and the sharing of scientific information and facilities through cooperation between national and regional institutions in the North and South;

innovations and improvement of the quality of science education;

stimulate new partnership with governmental institutions and major non-governmental scientific organizations in the basic sciences.

Co-funding is essential element

ERC could provide similar help for Europe at more adequate financial level

IBSP overlaps in its objectives with ERC

A cooperation would be opportune and beneficial

European Science not so bad!!

• Quite competitive in some fields• CERN, ESO, EMBL

• Learn also from positive examples

Working Style of CERN

CERN builds and operates (unique) facilities, coordinates exploitation (Technical Competence) “Service Station”

Users come from Universities, national Labs, etc. (Scientific Competence, Rejuvenation)

Tasks shared between CERN – Users

Foundation based on 2 initiatives :1.Physicists:join European forces to be competitive with US, in nuclear and elementary particle physics

2. Political initiative: European Movement bring Europeans together after war

The two initiatives were combined at 5. General Conference of UNESCO in Florence, June 1950

Constitution approved in 2004, 1. European Organisation

Two objectives:

●Promote science and technology and

●Contribute to better understanding between nations

CERN international organisation

Memberstates of CERN

From 12 to 20 Member States

+ Associates USA, Russia, Japan, India, Israel,........and special agreements with many other countries

Users in whole World

LEP/LHCSPSPS/ISR

CERN crossing the Swiss-French Border

***

Tunnel 27 km circumference, built for LEP (e+e-), used now for LHC (p-p)

CERN and Europe

• CERN is older then EU and EU application oriented (EURATOM) from its beginning

• Hence little contact in the past (recently for GRID, after the invention of WEB by CERN)

CERN has academic training program, but cannot award academic titles(strong cooperation with universities, how to improve?)

• ERC should help users to participate in CERN program providing infrastructure at home institutions (detector building)

• Make use of its infrastructure and competence for other institutions (Technical University?), create network among major European technical institutions

SESAMESESAME international organisation

A 3rd Generation Synchrotron Light Source for the Middle East

• International organisation created by UNESCO according to CERN model

• 8 Members of SESAME Council; Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine, Turkey, Iran?, Iraq??, Cyprus ?

• Observer Countries: France*, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Russia, UK, USA, United Arab Emirates

• Jordan is host country; selected from 7 competing countries,

Lab must be open to qualified scientists from everywhere• Jordan is providing the site and funds for the building now in construction

• Some capital funds sought from other sources (EU, Japan, US…)

• First operation expected in 2009

www.sesame.org.jo

SESAME

H.M.King Abdullah II and UNESCO DG Matsuura unveiling marble plate, Groundbreaking January 2003

_________________________________________________________________________________

APRIL 2005

Building to be finished fall 2006

The site of SESAME in Allaan, Jordan;

30 km NW of Amman

Elevation ≈ 1000 m

Summer 2005

When unanimously approved by UNESCO General Assembly (November 2001,

more than 150 Countries) and Executive Board (>50 countries Mai 2002)

”...model project for other regions....Quintessential UNESCO project combining capacity building with vital peace-building through science.” Seed money for similar projects suggested

Was possible only by help from Europe: donation of equipment (BESSY I Germany, beam elements from LURE and Daresbury)

European SR labs accepted trainees from Middle East

Request for funds for upgrading from EU (MEDA programme) pending

My experience: Large funds for development available (Roads, Water), Very low priority for research!!

1% of funds for development would help basic research!

SESAME and Europe

Architects (scientists) on their knees asking for funds

The tower of Babelby Breughel

Some Conclusions• Provide funds for infrastructure,

not only for training • Keep bureaucracy to minimum

Best scientists find funds anyway

• Transparence for decision taking• Promote international cooperation

in and outside EuropeDo not make simply gifts, require: engagement of local scientists with

competence (to avoid “white elephants”!)

participation from local authorities (co-funding)

Thank you for your attention

Paul Johannes II at CERN

Unknown particles

Known particles

Gammaphotons

Mini Big Bang

Investigate state of matter at high energy densities (temperature)

Energy concentration like about 10-10 s after Big Bang