Doha, Qatar, October 14, 2018: Qatar Foundation’s (QF) edutainment reality TV show Stars of Science has concluded its Season 10 auditions – and the competition has just begun.
The jury has selected the top nine innovation masterminds who will now fly to the workshops at Qatar Science & Technology Park to transform their ideas into products and compete for the show’s ultimate title of ‘Best Arab Innovator’.
“Previous seasons of Stars of Science have demonstrated the extent of the innovative ability that exists among Arab youth,” said Khalifa Essa Al-Kubaisi, Media Relations Manager, QF. “This year’s contestants have already shown us how they have the potential to live up to the standard the show has set since it first came onto our screens.”
“Celebrating a decade of creativity and innovation across the Arab world being supported and advanced through Stars of Science, this milestone season is proving to be unmissable for anyone who appreciates edutainment television with a true purpose, centered around young game-changers who are committed to solving real-life problems through turning their ideas into reality.”
Four of the top nine innovators are women. From the Information and Communications Technology episode, two innovators survived the auditions. Sylia Khecheni earned her ticket to enter the prototyping phase with an intricate Home Privacy Drone Blocker, a device that stops video transmissions without damaging the source of the intrusive signal. Meanwhile, fellow contestant Rooda Al Qebaisi welcomed the opportunity to put her Dynamic VIP Seating Manager to the test.
Anna Malek’s compassionate and business-savvy nature fuels her passion to ensure her Smart Car Seat not only protects newborn children, but also gives parents peace of mind; while scientific researcher Nour Majbour will work on her Parkinson’s Early Detection Kit, and is keen to find a binary way of detecting signs of the disease in a timely way.
The largest pool of contestants this year came from the biomedical rounds, with 10 contestants in the shortlist, and five making it into the top nine. In the upcoming episode, neurosurgeon Walid Albanna will work on his Neurovascular Google Analyzer, designed to aid doctors in detecting early signs of recurring strokes.
Also entering the medical innovation arena is Ahmed Zahlan, the youngest innovator on the show, who has high hopes that his Contactless Gluten Detector will ultimately be used by those who struggle with gluten-related allergies. And driven by his zest for measurable results, Abdullah Al Sairafi will be seen aiming to perfect his Sports Performance Patch.
With only two places remaining after these rounds, five hopefuls from the energy and environment episode competed for their final chance to book their spot among the show’s top nine. Artist Salim Al Kaabi has been selected to work on his Safe Frankincense Varnish for Artists, a product that nullifies the harsh side effects of varnish while retaining the ability to make timeless paintings. Meanwhile, Ghassan Oueidat stood out with his novel idea of using a Dry-Ice Cleaner Bot to autonomously clean tower blocks.
Viewers can now tune in on October 20 for the action-packed prototyping episode and see the top nine enter the studios for the first time in Season 10. With their mentors’ support, the contestants will see their innovations undergo constant development and design refinement that prepares them for the semi-final elimination rounds, where the products will be vetted by potential customers. In the Grand Final, four innovators will share a cash prize of $600,000 based on jury review and public votes.
For a full broadcast guide to Stars of Science Season 10, visit www.starsofscience.com
Do you have what it takes to be successful on Stars of Science Season 11? The show is currently accepting applications for its next season until the end of December 2018. Visit www.starsofscience.info/applynow/sos.html to register.
About Stars of Science
Stars of Science, the edutainment TV initiative by Qatar Foundation, is the Arab world’s leading innovation show. Established in 2008 to inspire a generation, the show empowers Arab youth to implement creative solutions to regional problems through science, technology, and innovation.
Celebrating a decade of Arab innovation, Stars of Science has proven to be a positive catalyst of scientific and technological change in the region beyond its broadcasts and social media presence of 2.5 million followers. Its alumni network spanning 131 people from 18 Arab countries has been going from strength to strength; independently raising over 14 million USD in revenues, grants, and crowdfunding. In addition to winning hundreds of innovation awards, they have also created jobs and businesses, given inspirational talks, built schools, and inspired a generation.
Over a 10-week process, an expert panel of jurors assesses and eliminates between nine innovators and their projects in Prototyping and Customer Validation episodes until only four finalists remain to compete for a share of $600,000 in seed funding. The ranking is determined by jury deliberation and online voting from the public.
Please visit:
Website – www.starsofscience.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/StarsofScienceTV
Twitter – https://twitter.com/starsofscience
YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/user/Starsofsciencetv
Instagram- starsofsciencetv
Details on regional broadcasting:
Al Rayyan TV: (GMT+3)
Saturdays: 21:00 pm
Re-run: Sundays 17:00 PM
Al Araby TV: (GMT)
Saturdays 18:00 pm GMT
Re-run: Saturdays 22:00 PM, 04:00 AM, and on Mondays 10:00 AM
Al Araby+2
Saturdays 18:00 PM
Re-run: Saturdays 22:00 PM, Sundays 14:00 PM, and Tuesdays 12:00 PM
Alsumaria: (GMT +3)
Saturdays 22:30 PM
Re-run: Sunday 1PM
Roya: (GMT+3)
Saturdays 22:30 PM
Echorouk TV: (GMT +1)
Saturday: 20:00 PM
Oman TV: (GMT +4)
Sunday: 21:00 PM
LBCI: (GMT+3)
Sunday: 17:30 PM
Al Rai TV: (GMT +3)
Every Sunday starting October 6th
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 Emir, 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