Synchrotrons in the Greater Caribbean and Beyond
GCLS/LAMISTAD Symposium: Synchrotrons in the Greater Caribbean and Beyond
An online satellite event of the CILAC Forum
11-13 December
(Full Programme, Registration, Live Stream (Day 1), Live Stream (Day 2), Live Stream (Day 3)
The Greater Caribbean region faces great social and environmental challenges and stands to benefit most from the types of science that synchrotrons enable. Synchrotrons, fundamental instruments for achieving the SDGs, do not exist in the Greater Caribbean – a region including the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela and Colombia. In Latin America the only one is in Campinas, Brazil.
An international group of scientists and science policy experts formed the Latin American International Synchrotron for Technology, Analysis, and Development (LAMISTAD) project, which aims to construct a Greater Caribbean Light Source (GCLS). This GCLS Initiative started in 2021 and has been acquiring international visibility. Discussions are being held on building a shared synchrotron facility at an energy that complements Sirius.
Parallel to the efforts of the GCLS Initiative, in Puerto Rico the idea of another synchrotron is being discussed as a new megastructure for scientific research by a group of scientists that formed the Puerto Rico Light Source (PULS) Initiative. This CILAC 2024 parallel session will consists of presentations of general character. The event will discuss both aspects related to the feasibility of these projects as well as their interest in the scientific development of the region.
Also in parallel with GCLS/LAMISTAD and PULS, is the Sociedad Mexicana de Luz Sincrotron (SMLS). The SMLS aims to promote Mexico’s own synchrotron sciences community through the organization of national and international congresses, specialized workshops, and training courses along the year. The community of users in Mexico will create and strengthen the infrastructure needed to make Mexico more competitive on a world-wide level, and such that Mexican governments can realistically contemplate construction of the Mexican synchrotron light source in the near future as a representative of Mexico’s great technological innovation outlook.
An additional element is the possibility of a synergy between the three projects, which could allow important savings regarding the preparatory phase (feasibility studies) and the formation of a broader group of potential users. Talks will be presented on synchrotrons and their impact, synchrotrons and the Caribbean, other South projects, scientific training and programs, experience and support from other synchrotrons, role of small countries of the region, US-Canada-Europe-Africa-Asia-South and Central America cooperation, light source and compact accelerators applications, light source future perspectives, international links and collaborations, inter-regional dimensions, and the legacy of Abdus Salam.
Organizing Committee:
Víctor Castaño (UNAM), Jorge Colón (UPR), Antoine Islegen-Woidyla (LBNL), Patrick Krejcik (SLAC), Abel Moreno (UNAM),
Lawrence Norris (AfLS), Carlos Rudamas (UES), Mitk’El Santiago (UPR), Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot (UWI), Galileo Violini (GCLS)