Latest news about the project

SUNSTONE GA and SESAME Users’ Meeting bring the community together in Jordan

  • 21 September 2026

September 2026 marked an important moment for the SUNSTONE project, as partners gathered in Jordan for the project’s first face-to-face General Assembly, followed by the 19th SESAME Users’ Meeting.

SUNSTONE hands-on training brings researchers to SESAME’s beamlines

  • 16 September 2026

The training brought together 29 participants representing 13 countries: Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe. The group reflected the wide geographical reach of SUNSTONE and included researchers at different stages of their scientific careers.

SESAME SUNSTONE Training Programme: Phase two takes off

  • 22 June 2026

Following the successful completion of the first phase of the SESAME SUNSTONE Training Programme, delivered online in April 2025, the second phase of the SUNSTONE Training School on X-ray Tomography for Cultural Heritage was officially launched online on 17 June 2026.

SESAME Welcomes Italy as new Associate Member

  • 10 June 2026

At its meeting in Grenoble, France, on 19–20 May, the SESAME Council approved Italy's application to become an Associate Member

ESRF hosts SESAME council meeting

  • 21 May 2026

From 19 to 20 May 2026, the ESRF welcomed SESAME Council delegates for their 48th meeting, which was held at the ESRF campus in Grenoble, France. Alongside the Council discussions, the visit provided a unique opportunity to strengthen ties between the two international research infrastructures and to share insights on common scientific and technical challenges.

Discover the new SESAME brochure

  • 18 May 2026

Learn more about SESAME’s mission, research opportunities and impact.

Building bridges between SESAME and European light sources

  • 09 March 2026

Strengthening user services at SESAME through collaborative exchanges and insights from European light-source partners.

UNESCO Event Highlights Synchrotron Science and Capacity Building in Africa

  • 17 December 2025

On 12 December 2025, UNESCO hosted a high-level event on science diplomacy and capacity building through synchrotron science in Africa, bringing together representatives from governments, international organisations, research infrastructures and the scientific community.

Strengthening the Cypriot Synchrotron User Community of SESAME

  • 08 December 2025

On 24–25 November 2025, the SUNSTONE Project organised the User Community Building Workshop on Synchrotron Radiation Techniques in Nicosia, Cyprus, hosted under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy (DMRID).

Germany to become Associate Member of SESAME

  • 23 November 2025

During a visit to the SESAME laboratory in Jordan on 15th November 2025, Dr Silke Launert, Parliamentary Secretary of State of the German Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, announced that Germany intends to become Associate Member of SESAME and that the Ministry will initiate the application procedure.

SUNSTONE Shines at RTI Summit in Copenhagen

  • 23 October 2025

SESAME and partners strengthen collaboration for next-generation research infrastructures and societal impact.

SUNSTONE brings SESAME its first Postdoc

  • 15 September 2025

A beginning of a new journey and a new step forward for SESAME: we are excited to welcome Dr. Ahlam Ahmad Farhan, who joined in August 2025 as the research infrastructure’s very first postdoctoral researcher!

Nuclear Physics News features SESAME: Science Without Borders

  • 19 October 2025

Building bridges, sharing knowledge, honouring a legacy. Those are the key points of the recent publication in Nuclear Physics News, which highlights SESAME’s unique role as a hub connecting regions.

European Commission hails SESAME as a beacon of science diplomacy.

  • 18 September 2025

Recognition in Europe’s new strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures highlights SESAME’s unique role as the Middle East’s only synchrotron and its leadership in projects like SUNSTONE.

SUNSTONE @ WAC-10: WP2 Workshop Insights & Impact

The SUNSTONE WP2 hybrid workshop, entitled “Access Synchrotron Radiation Facilities for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage: Open SESAME for Your Research”, was held on Saturday, 28 June 2025, as part of the 10th World Archaeological Congress (WAC-10), which took place from 22–28 June 2025 in Darwin, Australia.

SESAME SUNSTONE Training Programme – Phase one concluded!

  • 25 June 2025

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the first phase of the SESAME SUNSTONE Training Programme, which took place online in April 2025.

SUNSTONE Training: Online Lectures on Synchrotron Radiation (April 2025)

  • 17 March 2025

In a bid to advance scientific research, the SUNSTONE Project, under the SESAME initiative, is launching a free online training program starting in April 2025.

Expanding SESAME’s User Front: SUNSTONE WP2 roadshow sparks regional partnerships in Cyprus

  • 22 May 2025

SUNSTONE WP2 team conducted a strategic 3-day roadshow across Cyprus last week to engage stakeholders, encourage partnerships, and build the SESAME user community.

Advancing Science: SESAME SUNSTONE Training Programme Kicks Off

The SESAME Training Programme is designed to equip researchers from the Middle East, Africa, and beyond with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively utilize synchrotron radiation techniques in their research endeavours.

Application now open for two Postdoc Fellows at SESAME!

  • 31 July 2024

Exciting Opportunity: SESAME Announces Two Postdoctoral Fellowships in Infra-Red Spectromicroscopy and Soft X-Ray Spectroscopy

SUNSTONE Project kicks off with first GA

  • 30 July 2024

The SUNSTONE Project officially commenced with its first General Assembly (GA) on 5th July 2024, bringing together key partners and stakeholders to launch this ambitious initiative.