Finalists on QF TV Show compete for share of $600,000 seed fund and status of Arab world’s top innovator
Doha, Qatar, November 1, 2020: Four inventors on Qatar Foundation’s Star of Science set themselves apart this season, overcoming challenges posed by COVID-19, and earning their places in the Grand Finale.
In this week’s prototype testing episode, Ahmed Fathalla, Eiman Al Hamad, Mohammad Almogahwi, Sarah Aboerjaib, and Wadah Malaeb took to the stage to prove that their projects met consumer needs, conducting user testing on their inventions.
“These talented Arab youths overcame incredible odds to reach this point in Season 12; conceiving and constructing their inventions under challenging circumstances and the eye of a watchful jury has been inspiring,” said Khalid Al Jumaily, Stars of Science’s long-time host.
“Everyone on the show, from the contestants to the experts and jury, showed perseverance and an unyielding dedication to scientific excellence. Stars of Science upholds a tradition of technological discovery and innovative thinking in the Arab region, and this season is no different.”
Two of the contestants excelled during prototype testing. Wadah made great progress on his Ductal Organoid-on-a-Chip, pitching his idea to experts and potential users to gain validation of his product, while Eiman’s Arabic Conversation Fraud Detection program impressed experts as they praised its huge scale and ambition.
However, Mohammad’s Automated Hands-free Toothbrush made the user uncomfortable during testing, with its large size and the excessive amount of water used. Ahmed’s Educational Platform using Electronic Cubes engaged one young user, but it occasionally failed to register some of the child’s behaviors, and the data presented was unclear.
But it was Sarah who was ultimately sent home. Her Fractured Bone Optical Scanner failed to show convincing results, and the jury criticized the lack of comprehensive testing and deemed the project unproven. Despite being voted out, the Kuwaiti remained confident in her project, pledging to continue its development in the future. “My departure from the show does not imply that my idea was a failure, it just simply didn’t fit the criteria of the jury,” she said.
Mohammed Al-Jefairi, a top four finalist on Season 9, assumed the role of co-host alongside Khalid Al Jumaily. He also told contestants that Stars of Science is only the beginning of their innovation journeys and that they must take advantage of the show’s alumni network in the future.
Ahmed, Eiman, Mohammad, and Wadah will make the case for their inventions in the Grand Final airing on Friday, November 6, showing off their market readiness and determining their final share of the $600,000 seed fund. Online viewers will also help determine the winner, as their votes count for 50 percent of the final score.
Online voting is now open on www.starsofscience.com and ends on Thursday, November 5, at 3PM GMT.
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