STARS OF SCIENCE FINALISTS WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH LOCAL INNOVATION AND SCIENCE EXPERTS
Following months of painstaking work, the four finalists of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) eighth season of Stars of Science, the Arab world’s leading scientific “edutainment” TV programme, will display their groundbreaking innovations to the jury and the public one last time this weekend.
Audiences across the Arab World have rowed in behind all four competitors as they developed their ideas over the last 10 weeks, and the region is now gripped as to who will take top honours when the programme reaches its exciting finale on MBC4 on Saturday night.
As the four innovators vie for a share of the $600,000 prize in seed funding, they can be assured that their prototypes have already gained significant traction in Qatar and throughout the region, with experts from various QF centres and organisations supporting their inventions.
During the course of the series, the four finalists worked hand-in-hand with many of Qatar’s leading science, health, energy, and research and development experts, and have established themselves as role-models for young Arab inventers, in line with QF’s drive to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship locally and throughout the region.
Finalist Sadeem Qdaisat, from Jordan, who developed a method of improving the quality of genetic testing for cancer and other diseases, has been working closely with specialists at Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to fine tune his product.
“The feedback I’ve received from the pathology department at Sidra and from the labs at HMC has been amazing.” Sadeem, who first presented his automated genetic testing idea in season six of SOS, said Qatar came up time-and-again as a go-to venue when he was looking for international support for his innovation. “The amazing thing about Qatar is its diversity and the acceptance of multiple nationalities and ideas under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation.”
Fellow finalist, Sevag Babikian, from Lebanon and an instructor of robotics at the American University of Beirut, said he wants to see his desktop 3D printer in every home. Sevag said he has also benefited greatly from the support of Qatar’s science, education and industry sectors.
“Stars of Science is an incredible vehicle for supporting innovation in the Arab world. Faculty members from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) visited me in the studio; they’re interested in my work because they’ve been building something similar but on an industrial scale. I’ve also met with specialists at Texas A&M University at Qatar and from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) whose feedback has been of immense use, particularly at the customer validation phase of the show,” said Sevag.
Abderrahim Bourouis from Algeria, heads into the Stars of Science final with his Smart Autism Shirt prototype, which he says will help people with autism and their families. “A sensitive project like this needs a lot of coordination and cooperation. This has been readily provided by Stars of Science and QF, who have supported me through the assistance of local and international experts and companies. This project should take many months if not years to accomplish, but with QF’s support it was achieved in no more than three months. That support has been crucial.” said Abderrahim, who received advice on his innovation from experts at the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), and at Texas A&M University at Qatar.
Ghassan Yusuf, from Bahrain, has also progressed to the final stage of the programme with his auto-scoring and management system for taekwondo. “My invention aims to eliminate injustice in the game. It will capture every movement in the fight, which will also help in training through analysis. This has been an amazing process. Stars of Science gives young inventors and entrepreneurs much-needed hope. They have assisted me with experts, designers, engineers and programmers; and that’s more than anybody could wish for.”
ENDS
Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF) is a private, non-profit organisation that is supporting Qatar on its journey from carbon economy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential, for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world. QF was co-founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Qatar Foundation’s Chairperson. QF’s work encompasses education, research and community development. World-class universities are brought to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy.
At the same time, QF builds Qatar's innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercialising solutions through key sciences. The Foundation also works to foster a progressive society while enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar’s heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.
For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa
