The Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK) is Türkiye’s authorized national contact point for the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME). TENMAK therefore helps Turkish researchers to benefit from the infrastructure established at SESAME, and carries out activities designed to ensure that Turkish users may benefit to the hilt from the technical opportunities available at SESAME and, through the studies they carry out, they may contribute to the greater development of the Middle East.
The Republic of Türkiye plays a leading role in terms of archeology and cultural heritage in the region. The number of national and international archaeological excavations, surveys, restoration and conservation projects carried out in the country every year exceeds 600. In addition to inorganic materials (stone, ceramic, mineral, metal, glass, pigments), organic materials such as human, animal and plant remains are obtained from field studies. Therefore, it is ensured that the relationship of humans with nature is analyzed in long processes. Paleoclimate, paleoenvironment and paleoecology studies, which can shed light on current environmental problems, require the systematic creation and processing of scientific data. Hence, the application of advanced analyzes in all areas of cultural heritage studies, especially in archeology, is a pre-requisite to catch up with, and be competitive in, this area science.
In order to enhance scientific studies on cultural heritage, introduce SESAME’s infrastructure to potential users in Türkiye as well as those in other countries and provide training for them, and discuss possible projects that may be proposed to SESAME, TENMAK and Istanbul University are jointly organizing a "Training Course for Applications of Synchrotron Light in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Studies". This training course will be held in the English language on the premises of the University of Istanbul on 18-19 March 2023. Participation by users not in Türkiye will be online only.
The application form and program of the training course can be accessed from https://www.tenmak.gov.tr/giris-introduction.html