Amman, November 16 (Petra) – Dr. Silke Launert, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, announced Germany intends to join Jordan's Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) as an associate member.

According to a SESAME statement issued on Sunday, the minister said during her visit to the research center: "SESAME is a shining example of scientific convergence between cultures and nations," noting the ministry will begin the process of joining the Jordanian facility.

For his part, SESAME Chairman Rolf Heuer said Germany's membership "strengthens years of regional cooperation at SESAME, supports the outstanding research conducted by the center's researchers and opens the door to further progress." In turn, Dr. Khaled Toukan, SESAME Director, stated the center has proven its "success" in innovation and diplomacy through science.

With Germany's plan, a world leader in scientific research, he noted the center will reach "an even higher level of excellence and open new horizons for scientific research and innovation." SESAME is a third-generation light source facility with six currently operational beamlines. Since its opening, the center has received 1,158 research projects from 47 countries worldwide, which resulted in publishing 157 scientific papers in top-tier international peer-reviewed journals.

Germany will become the center's first associate member after eight other member states have already secured membership.

//Petra// AG