BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CERN//INDICO//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Leaving No One Behind: Science\, Sovereignty\, and the Risk of a N ew Health Inequality DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T200000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T203000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260606T093537Z UID:indico-contribution-816-10370@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:During the COVID-19 pandemic\, a phrase became widely used by governments\, international organizations\, and citizens around the world: “leave no one behind.” It encapsulated a shared aspiration—the idea of a humanity united in the face of a common threat and the conviction th at the benefits of science should be available to all.\n\nYet reality turn ed out to be very different. Millions of people were left behind in access to vaccines\, treatments\, medical equipment\, and scientific capabilitie s. The inequalities between developed and developing countries became more visible than ever before. The pandemic revealed that international solida rity has limits when confronted with economic interests\, concentrated ind ustrial capacities\, and profound technological asymmetries.\n\nAt the tim e\, particular concern focused on Africa. Many experts predicted a health catastrophe of historic proportions. Yet although the continent experience d severe economic and social consequences\, observed mortality rates were lower than many initial forecasts had suggested. Several factors contribut ed to this outcome: a relatively young population\, different patterns of internal mobility\, previous experience in managing epidemics\, and forms of social resilience developed through repeated crises.\n\nThat experience provided an important lesson. The absence of an even greater tragedy did not mean that inequalities had disappeared. It simply showed that demograp hic and social factors partially mitigated the effects of a structural vul nerability that remains in place today. Scientific and technological depen dence continues to be one of the principal weaknesses of the Global South. \n\nToday\, only a few years after the pandemic\, two seemingly different developments once again raise the same fundamental question. On the one ha nd\, new Ebola outbreaks in Africa remind us that infectious diseases rema in a persistent threat. On the other\, recently announced advances in the fight against pancreatic cancer offer extraordinary hope to millions of pe ople\, while also raising questions about who will actually benefit from t hese innovations.\n\nEbola serves as a reminder that health emergencies ha ve not disappeared. Each new outbreak tests the capacity of health systems to conduct epidemiological surveillance\, diagnosis\, research\, and rapi d response. It also demonstrates that regions with limited scientific infr astructure remain heavily dependent on decisions\, resources\, and technol ogies developed elsewhere.\n\nThe case of pancreatic cancer\, however\, is even more revealing of the challenges facing the Global South.\n\nPancrea tic cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Every year it ca uses approximately half a million deaths globally. In Latin America and th e Caribbean\, an estimated 30\,000 to 35\,000 people die annually from the disease. It has one of the lowest survival rates among all forms of cance r because it is often diagnosed only after reaching an advanced stage.\n\n For decades\, progress has been limited. However\, at the recent Annual Me eting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)\, results were p resented that many specialists consider among the most promising in recent years. New targeted therapies and innovative treatment approaches have de monstrated significant improvements in survival and quality of life\, fuel ing hopes that medicine may be entering a new era in confronting a disease that has historically been extremely difficult to treat.\n\nThese develop ments are a legitimate source of hope. But they also raise an uncomfortabl e question: how long will it take for these advances to reach patients in Latin America\, Africa\, and other regions of the Global South?\n\nHistori cal experience suggests that the answer may be measured in years rather th an months.\n\nBetween scientific discovery and effective access to its ben efits lies a complex chain that includes research\, patents\, industrial p roduction\, regulation\, financing\, logistics\, and institutional capacit y. Countries that control this chain generally gain access to innovations first. Others depend on transfer processes that are often slow\, costly\, and incomplete.\n\nAdding to this challenge is a new source of uncertainty . In the United States\, policymakers are discussing mechanisms aimed at l owering the price of certain medicines through international price referen cing\, an approach associated with so-called “most favored nation” pol icies. Although the stated objective is to reduce treatment costs for Amer ican patients\, some analysts warn that such measures could influence the global commercialization strategies of the pharmaceutical industry.\n\nIf prices charged in other countries affect revenues generated in the most pr ofitable markets\, pharmaceutical companies may have incentives to delay t he introduction of certain medicines in middle- and low-income countries. This is not an inevitable outcome\, but it is a possibility that deserves careful attention.\n\nShould such a trend materialize\, a troubling parado x could emerge. Just as science begins to offer new opportunities against devastating diseases\, a significant portion of humanity could gain access to them only after years of delay.\n\nThe underlying issue extends far be yond healthcare. It is fundamentally a question of scientific and technolo gical sovereignty.\n\nThe pandemic demonstrated that countries capable of generating knowledge\, developing technology\, and producing strategic sup plies were able to respond more rapidly and autonomously. Those that depen ded entirely on external providers remained vulnerable to decisions made b eyond their borders.\n\nFor this reason\, the debate over large-scale scie ntific infrastructure has an importance that extends far beyond academia. The issue is not merely the production of scientific papers or improved po sitions in international rankings. It is about building capacities capable of transforming knowledge into concrete solutions for society.\n\nIn this context\, synchrotrons represent one of the most powerful tools of contem porary science. These facilities generate extremely bright beams of light that make it possible to study the structure of materials\, proteins\, bio logical tissues\, and complex systems with extraordinary precision.\n\nThe ir applications span numerous strategic fields\, including health\, pharma cology\, biotechnology\, energy\, advanced agriculture\, nanotechnology\, and new materials. In biomedicine\, they allow researchers to investigate molecular mechanisms associated with cancer\, identify biomarkers for earl ier diagnosis\, and accelerate drug discovery processes.\n\nThe case of Si rius in Brazil is particularly important for Latin America. Sirius is one of the most advanced scientific infrastructures in the Southern Hemisphere and demonstrates that the region possesses the technical and human capabi lities required to participate at the frontier of knowledge.\n\nMore impor tantly\, Sirius shows that investment in Big Science is not a luxury reser ved for major powers. It is a development tool. Around facilities of this kind\, innovation ecosystems emerge that connect universities\, hospitals\ , technology centers\, companies\, and public institutions. International experience demonstrates that regions hosting major scientific infrastructu res also tend to develop advanced industrial capabilities and knowledge-ba sed value chains.\n\nFor precisely this reason\, projects such as the Glob al Caribbean Light Source Initiative (GCLSI) should be understood as much more than research infrastructures. They represent a strategic investment in the region’s capacity to generate its own knowledge and to participat e actively in creating solutions to its own challenges.\n\nHistory shows t hat no country has achieved a significant position in the knowledge econom y by limiting itself to importing technologies developed elsewhere. The na tions that lead innovation today are those that\, over decades\, invested simultaneously in higher education\, scientific research\, technological i nfrastructure\, and advanced industry.\n\nThe real question is what role t he Global South wishes to play in the emerging world.\n\nIt can choose to remain primarily a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere\, acceptin g inevitable delays in access to critical innovations. Or it can gradually build the capacities required to participate in their development.\n\nThe new Ebola outbreaks and the advances against pancreatic cancer represent two sides of the same reality. In one case\, the priority is responding ra pidly to an infectious threat. In the other\, it is ensuring access to com plex treatments resulting from decades of advanced research. Both challeng es lead to the same conclusion: technological dependence carries a human c ost.\n\nDuring the pandemic\, it was repeatedly said that no one should be left behind. The phrase expressed a noble and necessary ideal. But ideals alone do not change reality.\n\nIf no one is to be left behind in the dec ades ahead\, more than declarations will be required. It will be necessary to invest in universities\, strengthen research\, develop technological a nd pharmaceutical industries\, promote regional cooperation\, and build sc ientific infrastructures capable of placing the Global South at the fronti er of knowledge.\n\nOtherwise\, the future may present a profoundly unjust paradox: a humanity capable of controlling diseases that for centuries se emed invincible\, while millions continue to die not because science is la cking\, but because access to science is denied.\n\nSovereignty in the twe nty-first century will no longer depend solely on natural resources\, terr itory\, or military power. It will also depend on the ability to produce k nowledge\, transform it into innovation\, and convert it into social well- being.\n\nThat is the true lesson offered by both Ebola and pancreatic can cer. And that is why science\, international cooperation\, and major resea rch infrastructures must occupy a central place in any development strateg y for the Global South.\n\nhttps://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributi ons/10370/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10370/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:HEP DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T133000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T140000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260606T093537Z UID:indico-contribution-816-10369@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Lawrence Norris (National Society of Black Physicist s)\nhttps://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10369/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10369/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:DESY and Trans-Atlantic Science Dipomoacy DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T140000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T143000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260606T093537Z UID:indico-contribution-816-10368@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Frank Lehner (DESY)\nhttps://events.saip.org.za/even t/274/contributions/10368/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10368/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Synchrotron Radiation : A Trillion Dollar Enterprise DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260608T181500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260608T184500Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260606T093537Z UID:indico-contribution-816-10352@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Giorgio Margaritondo (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT))\nThe promot ion of synchrotron radiation and in particular of new facilities often req uires presentations to broad audiences\, illustrating the benefits from it s use. However\, such presentations systematically encounter a problem: id entifying good arguments to demonstrate the practical and financial benefi ts\, in addition to the scientific ones. Until recently\, one could not fi nd reliable and detailed quantitative information\, and it was necessary t o make only qualitative statements with limited impact. \n\nHowever\, this situation has been changed by a new and unique event: the COVID pandemics . Which stimulated sophisticated estimates of its financial impact by emin ent economy experts. Such estimates also provide a solid background to eva luate the financial benefits from the use of synchrotron sources. In essen ce\, synchrotron radiation crystallography was essential for the quick ide ntification of the COVID virus structure\, which allowed the timely develo pment of vaccines. Thus\, by analyzing the effects of the vaccines one can evaluate\, in particular\, the mitigation of the financial losses from th e pandemics. Which also correspond to the financial benefits from synchrot ron radiation activities. The results are absolutely astonishing\, reveali ng that such activities are one of the most profitable enterprises of all times. \n\nTheir benefits are not millions nor billions\, but reach severa l trillions dollars\, beating even the companies with the largest revenues in the world such as Amazon\, Walmart and Apple\,. And reaching an outsta nding benefit/cost ratio. These realities\, of course\, boost the effectiv eness of the promotion of existing and new facilities.\n\nhttps://events.s aip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10352/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10352/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:A Staged Pathway Toward Establishing an Advanced Science Center in Mexico and the Greater Caribbean DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T143000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260609T150000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260606T093537Z UID:indico-contribution-816-10356@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Patrick Krejcik (SLAC)\nThe aspiration of establishi ng a national advanced science facility\, particularly a synchrotron light source\, in an emerging economy such as Mexico\, represents a profound co mmitment to fostering scientific progress and technological autonomy. Such advanced research infrastructure is widely recognized as the bedrock for a nation's position in global scientific advancement\, yet its realization in developing countries presents multifaceted financial\, technical\, and human capital challenges. Past proposals for large-scale scientific facil ities in Mexico and similar initiatives in other emerging economies have o ften encountered significant hurdles related to the substantial initial fi nancial outlay\, the protracted timeline from project inception to the del ivery of first scientific results\, and the scarcity of a sufficiently tra ined local workforce. This paper critically examines these historical obst acles and proposes a pragmatic\, staged developmental model as a strategic pathway to mitigate these formidable challenges. Beginning with accessibl e\, cutting-edge small-scale facilities\, this approach systematically cul tivates a robust local expert community\, generates early scientific impac t\, and incrementally builds the technical and financial credibility essen tial for a future world-class synchrotron. Detailed descriptions of each p roposed stage\, encompassing advanced X-ray and electron-based techniques\ , are presented\, highlighting their immediate scientific contributions an d their foundational role in preparing for a larger facility. Emphasis is placed on the imperative of continuous engagement with the Mexican and Gre ater Caribbean scientific user communities\, leveraging survey data and in ternational usage statistics to define the precise scope and requirements for instrumentation. The paper contrasts the benefits of this phased strat egy\, including its optimized timeline and cost-effectiveness\, with the i nherent risks and extended lead times associated with a "greenfield" appro ach. Finally\, we delineate the broad parameters for an optimally designed synchrotron storage ring\, making specific comparisons with successful in ternational facilities\, to ensure both world-class performance and financ ial prudence\, ultimately positioning Mexico as a leading hub for scientif ic discovery and innovation within the region.\n\nhttps://events.saip.org. za/event/274/contributions/10356/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10356/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:The Puerto Rican Light Source (PULS) Initiative DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260608T184500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260608T191500Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260606T093537Z UID:indico-contribution-816-10355@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Jorge L Colón (University of Puerto Rico\, Río Pie dras)\nSeveral Caribbean researchers and students\, including from Puerto Rico\, have been conducting materials and biological research studies at s ynchrotron facilities around the world. However\, no synchrotron facility exists in the Greater Caribbean Region. A few years ago\, a group of inter national researchers created the Latin American International Synchrotron for Technology\, Analysis and Development (LAMISTAD) project with the aim to construct a Greater Caribbean Light Source (GCLS). Several Puerto Rican researchers are participating in the GCLS/LAMISTAD Committee. After the l oss of the Arecibo Observatory\, Puerto Rico might be a suitable site for a Big Science project such as the establishment of a synchrotron light sou rce on the island. The Puerto Rican Light Source (PULS) initiative was cre ated among Puerto Rican scientists participating in the GCLS/LAMISTAD Comm ittee. Initial discussions about this initiative have been conducted with the Puerto Rico Science\, Technology\, and Research Trust. A white paper proposing a viability study was prepared. Recently\, we communicated with the office of the Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Washington\, D. C. to make him aware of these initiatives. In this presentation the prese nt status of the PULS initiative and possible next steps will be discussed .\n\nhttps://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10355/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10355/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Commissioning of the STAR Compact Light Source Toward High-Brightn ess ICS X-Ray Generation DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260608T191500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260608T194500Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260606T093537Z UID:indico-contribution-816-10351@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Luigi Faillace (INFN-Frascati)\nThe commissioning of the STAR Research Infrastructure (Southern Europe Thomson Back-scattering Source for Applied Research)\, located at the University of Calabria in s outhern Italy\, is currently in progress. STAR is a compact light source d esigned to generate monochromatic\, tunable\, and polarized hard X-ray bea ms with picosecond pulse duration through inverse Compton scattering (ICS) \, covering photon energies between 40 and 350 keV for a wide range of sci entific and applied research applications.\n\nThe STAR 2.0 upgrade project is being developed in collaboration with the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare\, coordinated by the INFN National Laboratories of Frascati toge ther with the INFN Milan Unit and the LASA Laboratory. The facility will p rovide high-quality photon beams to two dedicated experimental stations fo r microtomography studies\, served by two independent beam lines.\n\nThis work presents the first major milestones achieved during the early commiss ioning phase\, focused on the validation and characterization of the elect ron beam and high-power laser systems required for X-ray production. Durin g commissioning\, a laser-driven electron beam was successfully generated\ , transported\, and characterized\, reaching energies up to 150 MeV with c harges above 200 pC and a pulse duration of about 5 ps (FWHM). In parallel \, a high-energy infrared laser pulse of approximately 500 mJ and 5 ps dur ation was transported to the interaction point and synchronized with the e lectron beam with sub-picosecond timing precision.\n\nThese achievements d emonstrate the successful integration and operation of the main STAR subsy stems and represent a key step toward full facility commissioning and the production of high-brightness ICS X-ray beams.\n\nhttps://events.saip.org. za/event/274/contributions/10351/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/274/contributions/10351/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR