A Synchrotron as Accelerator of Science Development in Central America and the Caribbean

TL;DR

The paper advocates for establishing a regional synchrotron in Central America and the Caribbean to foster scientific development, regional collaboration, and societal welfare, inspired by successful international models.

Contribution

It proposes creating a regional synchrotron facility in the Caribbean, leveraging South-South cooperation and regional initiatives to boost science and innovation in the area.

Findings

Existing synchrotrons are scarce in Latin America, with only two in Brazil.

Regional collaboration can be enhanced through models like SESAME and African Light Source.

A regional synchrotron could catalyze scientific and social progress in the Caribbean.

Abstract

Central America and the Caribbean (CAC) need science development efforts through ambitious projects that require strong regional collaboration. Inspiration can be drawn from initiatives in regions with similar problems. The bottleneck is the scarcity of public research centers and little or no research in private universities. An interesting proposal is the creation of a Dominican "Silicon Beach". The "Central American Science and Technology Fund" should focus on objectives capable of attracting the attention of the non-academic sector, first and foremost policy makers, but also civil society in general. The successful experience of SESAME (" Synchrotron Light for Experimental Science and Applications in Middle East ") offers an interesting basis for reflection, as it allows scientific research and short-term practical and social applications. Only two of the more than 60 existing synchrotrons are in Latin America, both in Brazil. Together with other similar projects in the South, such as the African Light Source (AFLS), and with the support of SESAME, LNLS and other synchrotrons in the South, it could lead to interesting South-South cooperation, which could be supported by the European Union or the NSF.As David Gross reminded, Science drives Technology, Technology drives Innovation, and this ends up in the welfare of society. A regional synchrotron may be the way to make this a reality in the Great Caribbean Region, as a first historical example of a large regional facility there.