Twelve of the Arab world’s most promising and remarkable young innovators beat thousands of rival applicants to be selected as candidates on “edutainment reality programme 'Stars of Science' on MBC4 channel.

Twelve of the Arab world’s most promising and remarkable young innovators beat thousands of rival applicants from across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region to be selected as candidates on the seventh season of Stars of Science, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development's (QF) “edutainment reality” TV program on MBC4.

These candidates come from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Tunisa, thus reflecting the diversity that has characterized Stars of Science since its inception, said a statement from QF.

Their distinct inventions feature smart technology that can solve problems in fields as varied as medical diagnostics, mobility for the physically challenged, sports, renewable energy and nutrition, it added.

In the first three episodes of Stars of Science, thousands of applicants from across the Mena region were screened in a multi-country casting tour by a panel of highly experienced jurors.

In the latest Majlis episode, jury members selected twelve of the seventeen shortlisted applicants to become candidates, advancing them to the next phase of the competition, held at Qatar Science & Technology Park, a member of Qatar Foundation.

As candidates enter the critical engineering stage, which spans three episodes, they compete against each other in three separate groups labeled; blue, red and purple, stated Youssif Abdulrahman, longtime juror and the general manager of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre (QSRTC).

“With each season, the quality, scope and variety of the inventions presented continue to increase,” said Abdulrahman.

“While this trend speaks to the great skill of Arab innovators in shaping the future of science and technology, it turns evaluation into an especially challenging task. The journey these young people are embarking on will be greatly inspiring for many, driving interest in science and technology innovation in the region,” he added.
 
To promote both teamwork and friendly rivalry, each group develops their inventions in the same laboratory. There, they benefit from the advice and support of mentors, who are professionals in many fields, including engineering, design, executive coaching and psychology, explained the QSRTC official.   

The blue group contains Saudi’s Hassan Albalawi, who will develop his idea for an “EEG Cap Analyzer.”  He will join Egypt’s Hazem Khaled (“Sign Language EMG Sleeve”), Palestine’s Nadim Rifai (“Rewarding Behavior Treadmill”), and Tunisia’s Naouel Ayari (“Smart Refrigerator”).

The red group will feature Lebanon’s Adib Al Ghossein (“Ergonomic Activity Desk Lamp”), Syria’s Yaman Abou Jieb (“Solar Washing Machine”), Jordan’s Maymoona Ayesh (“Date Pits Filter in Desalination”), and Algeria’s Mourad Mohamed Benosman (“ECG Wearable Stress Analyzer”).

The purple group will see Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Aldossary work on a prototype of his “Airport Smart Chair,” along with Tunisia’s Fawzy Othman (“Robotic Goalie Trainer”), Egypt’s Omar Hamid (“Prayer Chair”), and Palestine’s Hussam Al Hinnawi (“Automatic Stair Climber Machine”).

Khalid Al Jumaily, who has taken viewers through the many captivating moments of previous seasons, will be back to host this seventh edition of Stars of Science, as candidates work toward realizing their visions.-TradeArabia News Service