Science: the shared language of development

This year’s conference on “Sharing Knowledge across the Mediterranean” is being held in Malta from 5 to 8 May. It is the sixth in a series of conferences whose aim is to promote dialogue among countries in the Mediterranean region through the language of science, organised by the “Sharing Knowledge Foundation”. CERN is one of the Foundation’s partners, and today John Ellis, one of CERN’s non-Member State advisors, announced CERN's readiness to donate several hundred computers to various Moroccan universities to encourage their participation in high-energy physics and Grid computing

 

CERN scientists, including John Ellis and Patrick Fassnacht, participate in the 6th Sharing Knowledge across the Mediterranean conference in Malta, on Friday 6 May.

This gesture of support to the North African region was announced during the sixth "Sharing Knowledge across the Mediterranean" conference. Embracing many of CERN's guiding principles, the conference focuses on sharing scientific knowledge across political, cultural and geographical borders. No topic with a scientific aspect is off limit: from the development of inter-continental communication networks and the desalination of seawater, to developing basic research and managing humanitarian catastrophes.

This year’s conference has drawn a diverse crowd to Malta – including the Prime Minister of Malta, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, as well as private-sector energy employees, scientific researchers, government officials and NGO representatives. "Our aim is to invite Mediterranean nations that already share ties in fundamental research - be it through CERN or the developing SESAME project - to address issues that affect everyday life in their countries,” says Robert Klapisch, formerly of CERN, the president and founder of the Sharing Knowledge Foundation. "Although the conferences are attended by people of a variety of cultures, by keeping the focus on common scientific ground they become venues for productive discussion." This year's conference is hosted by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, whose CEO is Nicholas Sammut, who has also worked at CERN in the past.

The first Sharing Knowledge conference was held at CERN in 2004. According to John Ellis, a member of the Foundation’s Council: “The meetings give CERN the opportunity to touch base with North African nations co-operating with the Organization, while also exploring potential new collaborations with other interested nations. Each conference is a rare opportunity to encounter representatives from Israel, Palestine and Jordan at the same table, discussing practical science-based solutions instead of focussing on potential controversies."

But it’s not just talk. While the Sharing Knowledge conferences have helped develop the growing dialogue between the regions, attendees are also encouraged to make tangible recommendations. “At the 2004 conference, many North African researchers spoke of the difficulties they faced getting visas,” says Klapisch. “This culminated in the 'European Researchers Charter', which allows researchers of any nationality to move freely through the European Research Area.”

CERN’s readiness to donate computers is yet another example of the tangible results emerging from the conference. They will be a welcome contribution to Morocco’s growing physics community, whose ties with CERN began in 1997 when Morocco became a member of the ATLAS collaboration. “We are confident that Morocco’s scientific community will develop its involvement in the field of high-energy physics,” says Ellis. Abdeslam Hoummada, Morocco's spokesman at CERN, commented: “In the name of the Moroccan high-energy physics community from five universities, I thank CERN for this donation, which will strengthen our participation in ATLAS and Grid computing.” If this collaboration is successful, CERN is prepared to consider donating further computers to other high-energy physics groups across North Africa.

The donation is a gesture that combines the spirit of the conference with CERN’s international scientific mission. “We’re hoping these computers will help set up a strong Grid computing centre in Morocco,” says Ellis. “I am hopeful it will be the first of many in the Mediterranean region.”

by Katarina Anthony