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Galileo Violini

International Center of Physics, CIF, Bogota

Colombian Academy of Science, ACCEFYN

World Academy of Art and Science, WAAS

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PHYSICS MATTERS, FIP, APS, July 27^th, 2023

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  More Synchrotron Light for Latin America in the Greater Caribbean?

• Introduction (3-11)

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• Project (12-23)

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• Expected Results (24)

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• Feasibilty - Justification (25-28)

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• Cooperation, possible US role (29-31)

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• Status and short-term Road Map (32-34)

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• Acknowledgments (35)

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Outline

• Basic definition: Central America and Caribbean countries

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• - In this talk: Mexico, SICA countries (continental Central America and Dominican Republic), Colombia, Caribbean islands
• - Geographically broader: Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and five US states:Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.

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Greater Caribbean

• - Explotation of Natural Resources
• - Agriculture
• - Tourism
• - Trade – Internal economies
• - - Services
• - Migrant Remittances
• - Import of technological goods

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• A need: High Technology industry

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GC typical economic Matrix

Latin American Economies�https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/LCN/latin-america-caribbean-/GDP-gross-national-product'>Latin America & Caribbean GDP 1966-2022

• Universities: 1538 Santo Domingo

1562-1676 Guatemala City

1636 Harvard

1792 Rio de Janeiro

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• Science: Yale Chemistry 1804

Latin America, XXth Century

Role of migrations: in the ’30-ies (Nazi - Fascist antisemitic laws

and Spanish Civil War)

in the ‘70-ies (Southern Cone dictatorships)

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• R & D Expenditure: Latin America 0.6% GDP (Brasil 1.2%, Argentina 0.46 %, Guatemala 0.04%)

US 3.45%

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• Political perception: US V. Bush, Science, The Endless Frontier, 1945

Space race ‘60-ies

LA Economic Matrix,

Opportunity cost, Fiscal austerity

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LA vs US Higher Education and Science

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• Country Res/1000 labor force HEExp/GDP Ph D students Publications R & D/GDP
• (%) 2018 (year) (%)

Mexico 0.71 1.02 43774 23508 0.31

Colombia 0.17 1.05 6225 11193 0.24

SICA countries

Guatemala 0.03 0.41 881 (2017) 269 0.03

Belize*

El Salvador 0.15 0.33 63 69 0.16

Honduras 0.08 0.88 492 (2017) 181 0.04

Costa Rica 0.79 1.36 2805 (2019) 1053 0.39

Nicaragua 118

Panama 0.08 1.1 107 (2016) 727 0.15

Dominican Rep. 232

* not considered by UNESCO Science Report becase included in the Caricom section.

Sources: UNESCO Science Report 2021 (Gabriela Dutrénit, Carlos Aguirre, Martín Puchet Mónica Salazar) and Carlos Aguirre, private communiation

Science in Greater Caribbean (2018)

Bottlenecks- 1^st : S & T Funding

• GDP % is a poor indicator when population less than 10-15 millon, and/or low per capita income.
• Low investment in S & T

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• Impossibility of investing in big national scientific programs. Need of Regional Programs and Funding

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• Funding sources:

- National public financing (very little, if any, private)

- International financing – Development Banks, usually earmarked for specific projects in specific areas, not allowing structural actions

- Cooperation - often treated as a primary source and not as a complementary one, constraints on eligibility of the research object.

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• First suggestion: GV, June 2015, CSUCA meeting in Cartagena, presented to Guatemala Government by J.A. Fuentes Soria, CSUCA ‘s SG .
• Endorsement by Guatemala Government (again J. A. Fuentes Soria, as Vicepresident) at a SICA Meeting, El Salvador, December 2015, 25M$/year during 5 years
• CTCAP Meeting in Guatemala (September 28, 2016)
• Still waiting for the decision of the Heads of State

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• Fuentes Soria, J. A. (2017), “Fondo Regional de Ciencia y Tecnología del Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana, FORCYT-SICA” in Lemarchand G., Relevamiento de la investigación y la innovación en la República de Guatemala, Paris, UNESCO

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A Regional Fund Proposal: FORCyT

Interesting, but sleeping

• "It is very common in backward countries an inordinate concern for immediate applications, and therefore it is customary to boast of practical judgment and to call for research exclusively of immediate application and useful to society.“ Bernardo Houssay, 1954

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Bottlenecks- 2^nd : Science Policy Goals

• Socially useful science (myth of the seventies)
• Forgotten the possibility of unsuccessful projects (Old article of Émile Borel)
• Usefulness of useless (Nuccio Ordine)
• Modern variant: mantra of innovation, neglecting the need of adequate technological and scientific background (David Gross’s Chain of impossibilities: ESTI)

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Bottlenecks- 3^rd : Two Myths

Research Teaching Society

Nanomaterials Master & Ph D Thesis Industrial development

• Materials Science Technician training Medical imaging

and engineering Radioisotopes

• Chemistry Minerals
• Archaeology Governance Environment
• Paleontology Science Diplomacy Climate
• Geophysics
• Informatics
• Space

Synchrotrons in the World

• Astronomy & Astrophysics:
• Chacaltaya Lab in Bolivia, 1942 (1947 pion discovery)
• La Silla (ESO) and Cerro Tololo (Interamerican) Observatories, 1969
• Pierre Auger Observatory (Mendoza, Cronin) 1999
• Several current projects, both open-sky (e.g.HAWC, Puebla, Mexico) and underground (ANDES, Argentina- Chile tunnel)

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• Only one synchrotron

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LA large Science Infrastructure

Research Teaching Society

Nanomaterials Master & Ph D Thesis Industrial development

• Materials Science Technician training Medical imaging

and engineering Radioisotopes

• Chemistry Minerals
• Archaeology Governance Environment
• Paleontology Science Diplomacy Climate
• Geophysics
• Cultural heritage
• Informatics
• Space

Synchrotrons

Importance and Versatility

LA (and Caribbean)

Only that at LNLS Campinas: first proposal 1982, VUV (1997), Sirius (2018)

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• Other Proposals:
• Colombia: Bernardo Gómez (2015)
• Mexico: first in Morelos (Víctor del Rio, 2015), then Hidalgo
• Cuba: After Obama’s visit (2016), Jeremy Rothstein and Fidel Castro Smirnov
• Puerto Rico – beamline at Cornell

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• Regional Proposal

https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.11979

• A Synchrotron as Accelerator of Science Development in Central American and the Caribbean
• Galileo Violini, VÍctor M. Castaño, Juan Alfonso Fuentes Soria, Plácido Gómez Ramírez, Gregorio Medrano Asensio, Eduardo Posada, Carlos Rudamas

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Our Proposal (2021)

• Potential users
• Available, especially in sectors where Region’s non-scientific demand is high, such as health, food safety, biodiversity.
• They must be trained. First need: to broadly explain that main use of synchrotrons is not for physics research.
• Not to be forgotten possible demand from outside the Region

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• Engineers, staff and technicians of the to-be Synchrotron
• Little experience, but SESAME’s experience shows it is only an apparent problem. When building the facility, enough time to realize a vigorous training program.

Civil engineering is strong

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Humancapacity available in the Human Capacity in the Region

• NECESSARY DEDICATED TRAINING PROGRAM

Civil engineers and users do not require a strong effort, Staff and technicians, in

particular for what concerns beamlines, sample environment etc. do.

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NOT NECESSARILY A REGIONAL PROGRAM.

Possible sharing with sister AfLS Project, through LAAAMP, South-South (SESAME,

SIRIUS), North--South cooperation (Elettra?, American synchrotrons?, European

synchrotrons, e-g. Alba ?, MAX IV and PRISMAS, model and actual opportunity?) –

NOT ONLY THEORETICAL TRAINING

A beamline at some existing synchrotron ? Joining groups at existing beamlines?

Some small accelerators in selected countries?

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Training

Rough estimate: between 1 and 2 billion US$ over 20 years

SESAME: 90 million US$ (full solar-energy electric power, marginal saving from using BESSY1 injector)

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Financing:

Necessarily participating countries. Even upper value of the estimate is affordable. International support could be possible (Development Banks, International Cooperation ?)

Possible mechanisms: Intergovernmental (CERN-like), Private (Consortium of participants, ESFR-like)

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Cost and Financing

NOT SO IMPORTANT, FOR THE MOMENT BEING – SESAME EXPERIENCE

Main possibilities:

- Mexico – Possible because of already existing plans. Political complexity , (federal structure allows local decisions, but eventual decision by Federal government)

- Colombia – Present government supportive of science.

Royalties Law 2056 (Sept.30, 2020)

- Dominican Republic – A City of Knowledge project announced by the President (February 2021), not yet implemented

- Central America ?

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Where?

• Whatever the location, it must be a Latin American Synchrotron, located WITHIN the Great Caribbean

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• Possible problem: Opprtunity to establish in other countries some complementary facilities not only an option for intemediate time, but as a Regional System of small accelerators.
• Belonging to a unique institution?
• If part of a regional lab. they wouls be less dependent of national political fluctuations.
• This point might be a not easy aspect of negotiations.

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What else, elsewhere?

Optimistic assumption: Project develops faster than similar projects.

• LNLS, SESAME, AfLS: 10-15 yrs for first idea to decision
• LNLS, SESAME: 10 yrs for decision to operation
• AfLS: First idea nineties, Interim Steering Committee 2015, First governmental formal declaration of support: 2019 (Ghana, president Akufo Addo), triggering Benin, South Africa, Nigeria and Ivory Coast

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Beginning of the thirties, Mid-thirties ?

More realistic: end of thirties

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When?

Which Kind of Synchrotron?

0- Technological developments have accelerated the transition from one generation to another

1- It must be 4th generation. Currently only MaxIV, ESRF and Sirius. Again SESAME case instructive.

2- Complementary to Sirius, which is a 3 Gev synchrotron

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3- Higher energy? Lower energy? Perhaps 1.5 GeV could be a sound choice considering the areas of application of special interest for the region. Example of MAX IV?

• Scientific development of the scientific community, integration of groups from different areas, strengthening of internationalization, increased access to other international facilities, advanced research, increase of publication number (perspective confirmed as attainable in the South by SESAME)

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• Technological and industrial development, Challenges of the construction and maintenance of the facility, and its beamlines, of the data analisis, Sirius example of CERN patents use. Possible fostering of new industries even for the construction.

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• Social and economical development. Research in sensible areas, food safety, circular economy, pharmaceutical, health (Cardiology, Neuronal degeneration, production of radioisotopes, biodiversity and molecular structure of plants,, medicine from natural products, tomography), soil análisis, nanomaterials for energy, biosensors for agriculture
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• Academic development. Doctorates, and broadening of the actual range of advanced teaching (less scientific inbreeding)

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• Political development. Science Diplomacy, Regional Integration

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Expected Results

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• AfLS – link through LAAAMP – Joint presentation at last-year World
• Science Forum in Cape Town, foreseen another joint presentation at
• UNGA78, possibility of joint training activities but most important point
• possibility of advocacy for joint international support
• A case for UNESCO? A case for American agencies?

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• Balkan Project in Montenegro

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• Interregional cooperation, initially in training, long term on prospective
• research, and not necessarily limited to Africa and Latin America

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Connection with similar Projects

Does feasibility justify the necessary financial commitment? and, make it justifiable for politicians and civil society?

Problem: Cost of opportunity, vis à vis social and educational problems of the region

Specific considerations :

Insufficient scientific education and development, cause of indirect costs

Social relevance of problems like: Natural risk, Environment, Food security, Contamination), Agriculture, Health

Political relevance: Biodiversity

General considerations:

Right of people to develop their capacities

Benefits of international integration

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A crucial Question

Easy Answers

from a Politician and a Scientist

José Francisco Peña Gómez: “Citizens have an individual right to develop, which must be recognized as a fundamental factor for the transformation of a nation”.

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Bernardo Houssay (1967): "Science, technology and research are the basis of the health, welfare, wealth, power and independence of modern peoples. There are those who believe that scientific research is a luxury or an interesting but dispensable entertainment. Serious mistake, it is an urgent, immediate and unavoidable need to advance. The dilemma is clear: either science, technology and research are cultivated and the country is prosperous, powerful and advances; or it is not properly practiced and the country stagnates and regresses, lives in poverty and mediocrity. Rich countries are rich because they devote money to scientific and technological development. And poor countries remain so if they do not do so. Science is not expensive, ignorance is expensive."

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Not-so easy Answers

Comparison with other public expenditures

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Health: During the pandemic the BCIE (Central American Bank for Economic integration) gave $400 million to the 8 countries it refers to

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Education: The argument of the cost of opportunity is rarely used to deny financing in this sector (Average LA: 4.6% GDP, against 0.6% Science)

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Military expenditure: in 2021, in the Greater Caribbean $21.2 Billion, largest fraction: Mexico and Colombia (together $18.9 Billion, broadly justified by the fight to Narcotraffic, especially in the Mexican case), but still remaining countries expenditure is $2.3 Billion

(Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, D. Lopes Da Silva et al.)

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• Role of SLAC for Brazilian LNLS and for SESAME. Two different cases

House Resolution for SESAME: Funding is intended to promote scientific excellence in the Middle East region and prevent the loss of scientific expertise that is holding back science education and research in the region.

• SESAME benefitted also from CERN and UNESCO support

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• Relevance for our case: Science Diplomacy, Latin America and Africa are strategically important for US, in particular after the pandemic (Vaccines issue), but also for several geopolitical reasons. Similar argument applies to EU.

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Cooperation –An Opportunity for US

• Direct support:
• Consortium of institutions: 1Universities with important LA programs. Not
• always easy. Conflicting interests and priorities
• 2 Big accelerators – Some discussion started
• 3 Possible APS sponsorship

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• Political support:
• Through Agencies. DOE ? NSF ? USAID ? Unlikely at individual level, but probably not if a Latin American focused program is put in place.
• A Marshall Plan for Central America? Advocated, two years ago, by Hispanic law-makers - Main motivation: social problems. But what about the reasons behind these problems?
• Through UN: – US rejoined UNESCO and agreed to contribute 150 M $ yearly for the arrears (intersection with mentioned direct support)

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Possible Forms for US Support

• Development Funds. Nominally stable (2000—2020) about 1 billion US$, 35% decrease in real terms
• IDB Regional Public Goods Program

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• Multilateral and bilateral cooperation
• European Union: Central America – European Union Association Agreement, two Belgian ratifications missing
• Program for CELAC Infrastructure
• Commonwealth programs

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• Possible form: Matching Funds

Cooperation - Other Possibilities

• Seminars: Frascati Natl. Lab. Universities of Rome and of Calabria, University of Los Andes, Popular University of Cesar, Pedagogical and Technical University of Colombia, Coast University (Barranquilla), ICTP School on Synchrotron Light Sources and their Applications, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Stanford SLAC, Polytechnical University Valencia, Center Nuclear Science and Technology (Tunis)
• Workshops and Symposia: Central American Network of Researchers in Natural Sciences, Symposium on Megaprojects with Dominican Republic Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Multivenue Symposium in six countries, Food safety and Biodiversity (Trieste)
• Conferences: El Paso-Ciudad Juárez (Purdue), 5th African Light Source Conference, World Science Forum
• Meetings: International Scientific Council-Dominican Academy of Science, Visit to several national Delegations to UNESCO
• Connection with LNLS and SESAME, and ICTP-ELETTRA
• Establishment of a working group developed starting from the authors of the 2020 article, and of an Interim Executive Committee
• Names of the Project, LAMISTAD, Latin American International Synchrotron for Technology, Analysis and Development or GCLSI

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What has been done

• Creation of an Association (or Foundation) to promote the project, possibly in connection with RCN
• Technical detailed article, and feasibility study
• Diffusion of the project (Civil Society, Press, Private Sector, Politicians)
• Realization of Training Workshops-Courses
• Contact International Organizations (UNESCO, CARICOM, ISC, FAO,UNDP).
• Goal: UNESCO resolution supporting GCS and AfLS
• Strengthening contacts with SESAME, LNLS, European and Northern American synchrotrons
• Strengthening interregional contacts with similar infrastructures or projects (Africa, Maghreb, Gulf, Eastern Europe, China)
• Participation in the Science Summit at UNGA78, next September

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What is in the Pipeline

• For the object of this talk: my deepest thanks to all my colleagues of the working group and of the Interim Executive Committee.
• For their teaching and support, that made possible that I am here today: to my Science-Policy mentors, Edoardo Amaldi and Abdus Salam

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Acknowledgments