Doha: Stars of Science, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s (QF) ‘edutainment reality’ TV programme on MBC4 that encourages science, technology and innovation, has shortlisted the region’s most promising Arab innovators for its seventh season.
Over the first three episodes, hundreds of talented students, entrepreneurs, and professionals aged 18-30 presented ideas to jurors at castings across the Arab world.
The panel of jurors, whose permanent members are Prof Fouad Mrad, Executive Director, United Nations ESCWA Regional Centre for Technology in Amman, Jordan, and Youssif Abdulrahman Saleh, General Manager, Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre, evaluated each idea in terms of scientific sophistication and originality, market outlook, and feasibility.
Applicants whose ideas met the highest standards in each category were shortlisted.
Serving as a tool to unlock human potential in the next generation of aspiring young science and technology innovators, and in line with QF’s mission of fostering a culture of quality and excellence, the seventh season of Stars of Science features some of the most diverse and potentially impactful ideas to date.
Many of the shortlisted projects aim to foster a more sustainable planet by saving water and using solar energy. Others leverage smart technology to monitor and improve health, train athletes, or enhance the quality of life for the physically disabled.
Many ideas advance the fields of photography, communications, nutrition, computing and on-the-job safety and efficiency.
The upcoming Majlis episode will capture moments in which the jury decides the fate of the shortlisted applicants — 12 of whom will be invited to travel to Stars of Science laboratories at Qatar Science & Technology Park, a member of QF.
Once in Doha, candidates will work with mentors to refine ideas and build prototypes of their inventions.
In prime time episodes, viewers will see the number of candidates steadily decrease to four finalists, who will share $600,000 prize money.
“Stars of Science empowers and facilitates development of the most novel ideas suggested by creative young minds in the Arab world. They get the opportunity to turn their dreams into real inventions, ones that can have a positive impact on society,” said Prof Mrad.
“The quality of ideas submitted is proof of the high level of ingenuity the youth of this region possess,” he added.
In addition to casting in Egypt at Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, locations for casting included GE Aviation in Qatar, National School of Engineers of Sousse in Tunisia, American University in Dubai, and American University of Beirut in Lebanon.
At each casting, both permanent jurors were joined by a local professional, such as Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, CEO, Msheireb Properties, Qatar; Dr Riad Robaneh, Professor of Computer Science, Tunisia Polytechnic School, Tunisia; Dr Khalid Al Dukan, Professor at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia; Dr Abdul Hakim Al Zuhairi, Senior Adviser to the Minister of Higher Education, Egypt; Dr Mariam Matar, Founder and President of UAE Genetic Diseases Association, Dubai; and Dr Dania Alsammarae, Co-Founder, Anglo Arabian Healthcare.
Khalid Al Jumaily, who has taken viewers through thrilling moments of previous seasons, has returned to host the seventh edition.
Over the course of 10 prime time episodes, 12 innovators will compete as they turn their ideas into working prototypes.
The innovators’ full journey will be chronicled through daily episodes starting on October 10 at 4pm KSA/1pm GMT on MBC4.
The seventh season will culminate in a live final, where jurors and viewers will candidates to share the prize.
To witness the moments in which jurors inform applicants whether or not they are selected to become candidates, tune into the Majlis episode to be aired on October 9 at 7pm KSA/4pm GMT on MBC4.
The Peninsula
