Who is Khaled Toukan?

06/24/2025By: Tasnim.h

• Full name: Khaled Awni Abdul Rahman Toukan • Born in Amman, Jordan, in 1954 • Married with three children Education: • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Beirut (1971–1976) • Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan (1976–1978) • Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1978–1982)

🏛️ Academic and Professional Career

• Worked as a researcher and teaching assistant at MIT • Taught at Yarmouk University and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia (1983–1986) • Joined the University of Jordan as a professor in Industrial Engineering (1987–1997) • Former: o Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Jordan o President of Al-Balqa’ Applied University (1997–2001) o Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Jordan

🧪 Roles in Energy and Science

• Currently chairs the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and leads the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) project. • Served as the Director General of the SESAME Project (Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East), the first regional scientific research center of its kind, launched in 2017 near Amman. • Member of the IAEA’s International Nuclear Advisory Group since 2016.

🎖️ Awards and Recognitions

• UNESCO Gandhi Medal for Peace (2003) • Recipient of national and international honors from Jordan, Germany, and France • Named by Nature Magazine in 2017 as one of the Top 10 Scientists Who Made a Difference Globally, for his leadership in the SESAME project • Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2018

🌱 Impact and Achievements

• Played a significant role in reforming Jordan’s education system, including launching the “Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy” initiative, which helped improve student performance in TIMSS assessments. • Instrumental in promoting regional scientific cooperation through SESAME, using science as a tool for peace and collaboration across political and cultural borders.

🔬 Global Engagement

• Held bilateral meetings with IAEA Directors, including Yukiya Amano, Cornel Feruta, and most recently Rafael Grossi in Vienna in 2024 • Frequently appears at international nuclear and scientific conferences as a representative of Jordan and the Middle East

📝 Summary

Dr. Khaled Toukan is a distinguished Arab figure who combines academic expertise with visionary leadership. From educational reform to pioneering scientific infrastructure like SESAME and nuclear energy development, his journey represents a powerful story of regional progress and international recognition in science and innovation.

* All articles published on this blog are sourced from various websites on the internet and are provided for informational purposes only. They should not be considered as confirmed studies or accurate information. Please verify the information independently before relying on it.