Stars of Science, now in its sixth season, pits innovators against each other in a competition to turn their ideas into reality. Twelve candidates aged 18 to 30 come to Doha, Qatar, where they are mentored by world-class engineering and design experts at the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP). The innovators’ resilience, ingenuity and teamwork are tested in challenges throughout the show as they develop their inventions from concept to commercialization with the ultimate goal of winning funding for their projects.
In the final design episode, Rania, Mohammed and Khaled were tasked with building upon their success in the engineering stage by improving their project’s design. The candidates crafted a bespoke design for their projects, aiming to make them more attractive, marketable and practical. The jurors mainly focused on industrial design, challenging the candidates to use art and science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics and functionality of their projects.
“Designers, innovators and scientists come up with new technologies, materials and paradigms that rejuvenate the fabric of mankind,” remarked VIP juror James Law, founder of the architectural firm James Law Cybertecture International. “A great designer takes a theory and finds a road to a practical reality. However, that is just the beginning. If you want to make something special, you have to discover the magic behind it.”
Mr. Law was joined by perennial jurors Youssif Al-Salhi, General Manager of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Center and Dr. Fouad Mrad, Executive Director of the United Nations ESCWA regional technology center.
Rania’s gamble in re-imagining the design of her Automatic Zucchini Corer paid off, earning her high praise from Mr. Law, who said her prototype was one of the best he had seen during his years on the jury of Stars of Science. Dr. Mrad and Mr. Al-Salhi also complimented the project’s cultural relevance and practicality.
The fourth and last spot in the final episode then became a battle between “The Scientist” Mohammed AL Housani and “The Quiet One” Khaled AlSulaim. Both faced feedback from the jury over the design of their projects. The jury agreed that Mohammed’s Efficient Solar Energy System was visually appealing, but urged him to think about designing a system to make deployment and maintenance easier instead of concentrating only on aesthetics. The design of Khaled’s Phone-to-Phone Battery Charger, meanwhile, was questioned by Mr. Law for being too simple. Mr. Al-Salhi and Dr. Mrad argued that though the device was functional, it lacked a distinguishing element, which hindered marketability.
“Every innovator must take both success and failure as yet another opportunity to re-focus and improve,” noted Mr. Al-Salhi. “I have no doubt that Rania, Mohammed and Khaled will continue to persevere and in doing so, inspire many around the region to take an interest in science and technology.”
Season 6 of Stars of Science will culminate in a live final episode hosted by Khaled Al Jumaily. The live final, in which voting from the public and a jury deliberation will determine the final outcome, will be shown on 15 November at 8:00 KSA time on MBC4
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Stars of Science
Stars of Science is an original TV format, initiated by Qatar Foundation, which encourages the Arab world’s aspiring science and technology innovators. In this sixth season, 12 candidates are challenged to prove their resourcefulness during critical stages of the innovation cycle with an expert panel of academic jurors and industry leaders. Eliminations take place in Engineering and Design episodes until only four projects remain. These four finalists vie for a share of a $600,000 prize, determined by a jury deliberation and voting from the public.
The program’s final episode airs on November 15th 2014 on MBC4 at 8:00 PM KSA
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 a carbon economy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential, for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world. Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, QF is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
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 commercializing 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
About MBC Group
MBC Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. Over the past 23 years, MBC Group has grown to become a well-established media group that enriches people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment. Based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, MBC Group includes 18 television channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment); MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour western movies); MBC3 (children’s edutainment with a mix of both local productions and western acquisitions); MBC4 (entertainment for young families with women at its core while leaning more towards local content productions); MBC Action (an indigenous adrenaline-packed channel targeting young males with local and homegrown productions); MBC Variety (Western general entertainment and movie channel broadcasting uninterrupted premium western films and series); Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Al Hadath (an extension of Al Arabiya News Channel with specific focus on actual happening events in the Arab world and beyond); Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel); MBC DRAMA (24/7 Arabic Drama); MBC MASR (general family entrainment channel geared towards the Egyptian family); MBC + Drama (paid channel on OSN and a joint channel between MBC & OSN); MBC Bollywood (delivering the freshest in Bollywood content geared towards the region via an Arabized interface); and most recently 4 sports channels- MBC PRO SPORTS (geared towards Saudi Football League fans in the Kingdom).The Group also includes two radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music), and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 productions, a specialized production unit. Furthermore, the Group includes online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, www.shahid.net (the first free VOD and catch up portal in the Arab world) and www.actionha.net, and www.mbcprosports.net among others. As of July 2011, seven of MBC Group’s channels began to air in HD across the MENA Region: MBC 1 HD, MBC 2 HD, MBC 4 HD, MBC Action HD, MBC Drama HD, MBC Max HD and Al Arabiya HD News Channel. In 2013, MBC 3 HD was added to this bouquet, and in 2014 MBC Variety was also added.
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