INNOVATOR WALID ALBANNA TRIUMPHS IN MILESTONE SEASON 10 OF QATAR FOUNDATION’S STARS OF SCIENCE
Doha, Qatar, November 25, 2018 Stars of Science has announced Walid Albanna as the Arab world’s top innovator during the show’s Season 10 Grand Finale. A firm favorite amongst jurors, innovators, and the public, the 35 year-old Palestinian neurosurgeon successfully outshone the competition in the last heated episode of the latest season of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) edutainment reality TV show at Qatar Science & Technology Park in Doha, Qatar.
“Each year, Stars of Science showcases the very best of Arab talent to the region and the world, and each year we are overwhelmed by the sheer quality of the competition and the innovative ideas that emerge from this unique show,” said Khalifa Al Kubaisi, Media Relations Manager at QF.
“Its milestone Season 10 has lived up to, and even surpassed, all expectations and demonstrated how, across the Arab world, aspiring innovators are determined to realize their ideas and their goals, creating genuine and positive impact for society in the process. Qatar Foundation congratulates Walid Albanna for becoming the latest winner of Stars of Science, and all the other contestants for their contributions to an unforgettable season. We wish all of them every success for the future as Stars of Science alumni, and look forward to seeing their pioneering inventions come to fruition.”
Ahead of Saturday’s Grand Finale, avid fans of the show and devotees of science and technology took to the internet to cast their votes for one of the four finalists. The online public vote, combined with the expert jury vote, earned Walid a score of 32.5 percent for his 'Neurovascular Retina Analyzer'. The smart wearable retina camera increases the quality of aftercare for patients who have suffered a stroke, and successfully secured Waleed first place and $300,000 in investment.
“No words can describe how I feel in this moment, as a Stars of Science winner,” said Walid. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Qatar Foundation, Stars of Science, my family and friends, and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey of a lifetime; and to all the kids out there with heads full of dazzling ideas for how to improve lives across the world, please remember that your ideas matter and are definitely worth exploring! I hope I can act as the beacon to guide them on your journey through science and innovation. If I can do it, they certainly can!”
Nour Majbour, the creator of the ‘Parkinson’s Early Detection Kit’, aims to change the face of treatment for the crippling disease. Through the ground-breaking technology she has developed, Nour secured a well-deserved second place with a combined score of 31.3 percent, earning herself $150,000.
Innovator Sylia Khecheni came third with a score of 30.1 percent. Her ‘Home Privacy Drone Blocker’, designed to ensure people’s privacy is kept intact saw her receive $100,000 worth of prize money. Salim Al Kaabi came in fourth place, leading to him being awarded $50,000, with a score of 6.1 percent with the ‘Safe Frankincense Varnish for Artists’, an invention that creates a safer environment for creative souls by protecting painters and paintings alike.
Arab youth across the world who are interested in science, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply in order to be considered for entering the next season of Stars of Science. Online applications will close on December 15. Screening and auditioning are part of the selection process, and applications should be submitted through the official Stars of Science website at www.starsofscience.com. Don’t miss this life-changing opportunity!
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.
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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 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
+974 6683 6932
