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20 Nobel Prize winners will gather in Spain to discuss, among other matters, the economic crisis and social and scientific progress

The economic crisis, social progress, and the Millennium Development Goals, among others matters, will be the topics of analysis in the “V Campus of Excellence”, which has been called “The Davos of Knowledge”, and which will be attended by some 1,500 people from over 20 countries and representatives of the top 100 universities worldwide

Also participating will be several former Heads of State and political figures such as Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France; Rosalía Arteaga, Ecuador’s former President; John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland and senior executives and directors of major international companies

During the first four meetings in the Canary Islands, a total of 30 Nobel prize winners, 600 scientists and International experts, 5 NASA astronauts and 40 prize winners such as King Juan Carlos I, King James I and the Prince of Asturias have participated in The Campus of Excellence

Madrid, 17 November, 2009.- On Monday, 30 November, The V Campus of Excellence will be  opened and until Thursday, 3 December, 20 Nobel Prize winners (6 of economy, 4 of biomedicine, 9 of basic sciences and 1 of peace) will meet in Madrid, along with other prominent figures such as the former presidents Michel Rocard, Rosalia Arteaga and John Bruton. This initiative, which owes its uniqueness to its academic, social, political and business components has been called the “Davos of Knowledge” and held its first four meetings in the Canary Islands. The event sponsor is the Business Group and has the support of the Autonomous Community of Madrid among other institutions. During the four days of The Campus, around 1,500 people from the world of economy, business, science, culture and politics will attend.

This roster of personalities is complemented by world experts such as Sam Deley Harris, Microcredit Summit President; Balbir Mathur, President of Trees for Life; Takeshi Asano, Stanford University; Ndioro Ndiaye, former Executive Director of the International Organisation for Migration; Bernardo Kliksberg, Advisor to the UN; Manuel Carballo, Executive Director of the International Centre for Migration and Health; Ana Lucina García Maldonado, President of the Latin American Federation of Lawyers; and Robert Sokolow, Princeton University, among others. They bring expertise in issues related to economic and social crisis, the crisis of knowledge, the migratory crisis, hunger, thirst, emerging new diseases and climate change.

Along with the experts and leading scientists, also attending will be personalities such as Dan Millan, author of the best seller that inspired the movie starring Nick Nolte, “Peaceful Warrior”. This decision making think tank is completed by a group of 100 university postgraduates, selected after passing a screening process based on their academic and professional careers at the proposal from universities from all over the world.

Ashoka Initiative in the Campus of Excellence

Also, the two generations that participate in this initiative (Nobel Prize winners and young scientists) will have the opportunity to design an ambitious initiative led by Ashoka, one of the principle philanthropic associations of social entrepreneurs. The project consists of jointly seeking solutions to real problems related to issues such as violence against women, diseases in the developing world or starvation and droughts. During these sessions an ideas competition will be open to anyone, on the Internet, to propose their own solutions to problems raised. The winner of the best idea in each area will receive a prize and their proposal will be implemented to resolve conflict situations raised by experts from the Campus of Excellence.

A pioneering initiative in the world

The Campus of Excellence is an initiative, which is a pioneer of its kind in the world that has managed to bring together the leading figures of scientific knowledge, economic, political and international culture together with the postgraduate youths selected by the world’s leading universities each year. The objective is to bring their creative abilities to bear in order to help solve societal problems, share experiences, learn from the experts and share with them ideas and solutions to the challenges that are raised, as well as opening up new career opportunities.

The Campus of Excellence has also emerged as an international platform for global debate and reflection, establishing itself as a true think tank of the highest order. All the talent present at the Campus of Excellence is at the service of the various speakers in order to provide new ideas for progress and development proposals.

Nobel Prize winners that will participate

Journalist Attendance

Authorisation will be necessary to attend the conference. Access to the sessions is free. To attend, please send an email with journalist information and media to:
ROSA BARRÓN: rosa@notadeprensa.net. Tel. 667 468 731. Also MANUEL MURILLO: manuel@notadeprensa.net. Tel. 666 05 55 99.

Conference Venue

Teatro Quinto
C/Sepúlveda, 3-5
28011 Madrid
Tel. 902 02 71 74