Description
Laws of physics are universally valid and provide an
excellent basis for international cooperation between
scientists from different mentalities, traditions, religions
and political systems. Basic science cannot succeed without
open communication without secrets and elementary particle
physics needs large installations which require also
cooperation with administrations and connections with even
highest political levels. Particle physics has pioneered
several steps in international collaboration.
CERN, the oldest European organisation, was founded after
World War II not only to promote science in Europe but also
to bring European nations together. In the past CERN has put
at the disposal of physicists several unique facilities
(continuing with LHC in the future) and consequently CERN
has become in practice a world laboratory. The large
scientific collaborations, called ‘experiments’, presently
involving up to 2000 scientists and engineers, radiated into
the political domain and contributed to establish mutual
understanding and trust. They promoted cultural exchanges
and sometimes even providing help to individuals.
The latest offspring of CERN is the SESAME Laboratory in
Jordan with a synchrotron radiation source as the main
facility. It was founded according to the CERN model under
the auspices of UNESCO. Like CERN with two objectives -
promote science in the Middle East and the Mediterranean
Region but also serve the slogan “science for peace” in this
conflict - torn part of the world.
Author
Herwig Schopper
(Universitaet Hamburg)
