Eight contestants remain in the competition, as the Qatar Foundation TV show continues to adapt to COVID-19
Doha, Qatar, October 18, 2020: Qatar Foundation’s Stars of Science hasundertaken several measures to continue filming Season 12, overcoming the difficulties presented by COVID-19 while ensuring the safety of contestants, jury members, experts, and filming crew.
And in this week’s episode – as international flights ground to a halt – jury members Professor Fouad Mrad and Professor Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry were forced to join remotely through video call. This unexpected change prompted Yosouf Al-Salehi, Qatar Science & Technology Park’s (QSTP) Executive Director and a former member of the show’s jury, to return to Stars of Science, joining the jury members to help instill an additional level of scrutiny on the contestants’ work.
“This crisis showed us the importance of investment in science and technology. QSTP’s leadership continues to pour resources into finding solutions that will help our communities combat the pandemic,” Al-Salehi said. “Stars of Science drives the promotion and retention of innovative talent while demonstrating the Arab World’s capacity to develop technologies that are increasingly critical in every industry.”
Before this week’s engineering prototyping episode, contestants were given four weeks to produce a fully functional prototype of the envisioned final product. Qatari participant Eiman Al-Hamad noted that she and her peers showed perseverance as they raced to complete their prototypes despite the obstacles that lay in their paths.
“Innovation is all about adapting, and we have shown our ability to do so,” said Al-Hamad. “Witnessing the constant flow of changes to the show, such as the introduction of remote critiques, is a surreal experience, yet that’s what makes our Stars of Science journey even more memorable.”
Abdulrahman Saleh Khamis, a finalist on Season 11 last year, joined the episode as a co-host. He shared his experiences as a former contestant and shed light on the importance of the engineering phase. Khamis’ innovation journey with his Smart Educational Prayer Rug, Sajdah, continued after Stars of Science with the selection of his invention for the technology-focused program at the QSTP Incubation Center, which aims to foster local tech entrepreneurship in the country.
Stars of Science will air every week on eight channels across the region, until the Grand Final episode on November 6, 2020, where the remaining contestants will compete for a share of a $600,000 prize in seed funding.
For a full broadcast guide to Stars of Science Season 12, visit www.starsofscience.com
About Stars of Science
As the premier innovation show in the Arab world, Stars of Science – the edutainment TV initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF) – empowers Arab innovators to develop technological solutions for their communities, benefitting people’s health and lifestyles, and helping to preserve the environment.
Over a 12-week process, the contestants demonstrate the effectiveness of their solutions in a shared innovation space, competing against time with the support of a team of experienced engineers and product developers. An expert panel of jurors assess and eliminate projects every week across several prototyping and testing rounds, until only four finalists remain to compete for a share of $600,000 in seed funding. Jury deliberation and online voting from the public determine the rankings.
Stars of Science will air every Friday and Saturday from September 11, 2020 till November 6, 2020. Please visit the broadcast guide for channels and timings: starsofscience.com
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Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, science and research, and community development.
QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.
QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.
For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa