Samuel Rios

Samuel Ulisses Rios Barrias is originally from Panama City, Panama. He participated in the Futuro MMXIX cohort at Georgetown University as an emerging leader. Samuel is pursuing a Licenciatura en Gastronomía at Universidad de Panamá, driven by a vision of opening his own restaurant after gaining experience across the industry. His project explored the intersection of food, culture, and technology — developing approaches to food preservation that address extreme conditions including aviation and remote environments. Samuel represents the conviction that culinary innovation is a vehicle for cultural diplomacy and practical problem-solving across the Americas.