ABSTRACT

We address the theme of international science collaborations, in the light of examples of the institutions from Europe, which were built after the Second World War. These international institutions devoted to science played a pivotal role in the rebuilding of Europe devastated by the wars. CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, Switzerland is a prime example of international collaboration, which now has 21 member countries. International science collaborations served as vehicles of communication and peace during the cold war. Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) in Jordan is modelled after CERN. Both CERN and SESAME are under the auspices of UNESCO. The SESAME facility is sure to advance science and promote cooperation in the region and beyond. The article discusses the need to create international science centres in Arab countries. The proposed centres can be modelled after the European institutions keeping in mind the local perspective. Such centres, when created, shall lead to the renaissance of sciences in the region.