Launch of the book “Voices of the City of Knowledge”

The City of Knowledge launched the book entitled “Voices of the City of Knowledge,” which compiles a series of testimonies about how the former US military base located in Clayton was transformed into the City of Knowledge country project. The presentation was held at the Athenaeum, located on campus, with a reduced capacity and complying with all biosafety measures.

The publication “Voices of the City of Knowledge” collects anecdotes from the different visionaries and actors who participated in the creation of the City of Knowledge and tells of its journey through history by which it consolidated itself as what it is today, an innovative community that promotes social change through humanism, science, and business in Panama.

The pages of the book contain the memories of national and international personalities such as Ernesto Pérez-Balladares, Former President of the Republic of Panama; Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Former Director-General of UNESCO; Juan David Morgan, President of the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the City of Knowledge, among many others.

The activity was attended by prominent members of the scientific, educational, artistic, environmental, and business community of Panama, who opened a space in their schedule in the midst of the pandemic to reflect on the role of Panama as a meeting point to propose essential and innovative solutions in the hopes for a prosperous, inclusive, democratic and sustainable future.

“This book is not about the past. On the contrary, it refers above all to the future of a project that has been underway for more than two decades, which is part of a singular circumstance in the history of Panama. A circumstance that created the conditions that allowed conceiving the possibility of transforming the most valuable part of a former military base into a pole of cultural, scientific and technological development, which will connect the country with the new economy of knowledge,” indicated Jorge Arosemena, Executive President of City of knowledge.

“This book calls us to that duty to act, to a daily behavior to remind us to make, once again, what seemed impossible a few years ago, a beautiful reality”, Federico Mayor  Zaragoza, Former Director-General of UNESCO, highlighted in a virtual greeting from Spain,

The project was directed and led by the prestigious Albatros Media Foundation. Alejandro Balaguer, General Director of the latter, stressed the impact of the transformation of the former military base into a space for innovation and knowledge: “this concept of swapping soldiers for students, has become from soldiers to entrepreneurs, cooperators, cultural managers, and innovators,” he pointed out.

During the presentation of the book, recognition was made to honor the precursors of the idea of forming the City of Knowledge, those who were part of its development, and those who are currently working day by day to develop a community that contributes to the creation of a prosperous, equitable, sustainable and democratic society.

“Our greatest pride is that the City of Knowledge has become a true Socratic space, which was the original dream of the founders. In this place, we have deeply reflected with high-level actors in matters such as organizational culture; innovation and entrepreneurship; community, businesses, and companies, ” said Juan David Morgan, President of the Board of Trustees and of the Board of Directors of the City of Knowledge.

For his part, Ernesto Pérez-Balladares; Former President of the Republic of Panama assured: “(t) he project that today has become this beautiful reality was not conceived more than 20 years ago to give civil use to a military installation. It was structured to be at the same time the custodian of our past and showcase of our future “.

That is why the launch of this book goes beyond a memorable moment for all the members of the City of Knowledge community, but it is also a source of pride for all Panamanians. These memories not only acknowledge the history that took place on campus, but also all future projects that will prosper from there.