STARS OF SCIENCE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF ARAB INNOVATION
Doha, Qatar, September 16, 2018: Celebrating a decade of Arab innovation, Qatar Foundation’s (QF’s) Stars of Science is returning to screens across the region and the world, with the leading pan-Arab innovation “edutainment reality’ TV show kicking off its 10th season on September 22.
The show, which was first broadcast in 2008, has cast the spotlight on the pace of innovation in science and technology, across the Arab world. The latest season will be available on multiple channels throughout the region. It can also be viewed with subtitles on the ‘Stars of Science’s’ website, and YouTube platform.
The 10-episode season will introduce viewers to cutting-edge innovation and the people behind them. From information technology to sustainability, the young contestants on the show have one shared mission – to develop practical solutions to regional challenges.
“Initiating a leading forum of innovation that provides Arab youth with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed has, and still is, the driving force behind Stars of Science,” said Khalifa Essa Al Kubaisi, Media Relations Manager, QF.
“It is our shared responsibility to support rising innovators and inspire Arab youth by connecting them with positive role models. The success of Stars of Science can be measured by the millions of young people it has encouraged to dream big, through their exposure to the show and its inspirational alumni. It has proven its substantial impact and will continue to do so in the years to come.”
The casting period of Stars of Science will see hundreds of hopefuls pitch their ideas, and, once selected, the top nine candidates - mentored by experts and Stars of Science alumni - will enter the prototyping and customer validation rounds. Eliminations based on jury feedback will take place across the following episodes, before four finalists compete to win a share of $600,000 for seed funding.
As candidates look to advance to the Grand Finale, Stars of Science jury members, Professor Fouad Mrad, Professor Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry, and Dr. Khalid Al Ali, will provide them with constructive criticism. TV personality Khaled Al Jumaily also returns to the series, as the show’s long-standing host.
Stars of Science alumni - such as last year’s winner Fouad Maksoud, from Lebanon - are change-makers who aim to leave an impact on their communities, their countries, and beyond. Over the past ten years, 131 of the show’s alumni have raised $14 million in revenue, crowdfunding, and research grants.
Many Stars of Science innovators have gone on to pursue their academic education, while almost 60 percent have gone on to start businesses and are currently contributing to their local communities through talks and other outreach activities. Accustomed to hard work, and passionate about problem-solving, they are each paving the way for future generations of innovators as inspirational Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) ambassadors and role models.
Watch episode 1 on Saturday – September 22nd 2018. For a full broadcast guide to Stars of Science Season 10, visit www.starsofscience.com
ENDS
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- www.instagram.com/starsofsciencetv/
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
For more information, please contact:
Mariam Diefallah –Weber Shandwick
