The Diplomat
IE Insights, IE University‘s knowledge Hub, has released the short film, “Rethinking Cities”, a 19-minute documentary that explores how universities can be a catalyst for innovation and solutions to problems facing cities such as mobility, sustainable development and waste management.
The film highlights that the growth of cities has accelerated and the UN estimates that more than 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. Infrastructures are being put to the test and there is one natural resource that has not yet been fully exploited: knowledge.
Javier Cumella Jordan, Audiovisual Director at IE Insights and director of “Rethinking Cities”, said that the documentary seeks to help understand “the role that knowledge-generating institutions, such as universities, research centres, businesses and government institutions, play in shaping cities and their contribution to making them truly prosperous, healthy and inclusive”.
The premiere of the short film took place on 23 November at IE Tower, IE University’s new urban, technological and sustainable headquarters in Madrid.
The event featured a speech by Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño, President of IE University, followed by a debate moderated by Cristina Manzano, Director of IE Insights, with the participation of Carlos Lastra, Professor of Political Economy at IE School of Global and Public Affairs; Eveline van Leeuwen, Scientific Director Amsterdam institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS); and Martha Thorne, Distinguished Professor at IE School of Architecture and Design.
Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño said that “the role of universities is not to be an ivory tower, but to be at the heart of knowledge, at the heart of the economy and, even more so today, to exist in the knowledge economy”.
“Universities,” he said, “are key to cities, they not only generate knowledge, research and training, but they become part of the life of the community and therefore actively participate in creating and offering services that nurture society and drive it forward.”
Throughout 2023, “Rethinking Cities” will be screened and presented at events in cities and universities around the world, in collaboration with IE School of Architecture and Design and IE School of Global and Public Affairs, as well as other universities and organisations. The calendar will be updated on the film’s website as events and panels are confirmed.
