STARS OF SCIENCE ANNOUNCES SEASON 13 FINALISTS

 Four contestants have emerged from Stars of Science Season 13 to secure their places in the Grand Finale taking place on October 22, where they will compete to win the title of Top Arab Innovator.

Along the way, these young Arab inventors overcame significant hurdles, winning votes from show’s jury to progress through the multiple elimination phases.

Mohammed Al-Qassabi, Qatari Information Systems student at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, hopes to contribute to the sports world with his Football Offside Detection System. The innovation uses ultra-wide band tags embedded inside players’ uniforms and the ball to track their positions in real-time throughout the entirety of a match to ensure that offside calls are made accurately.

During the engineering phase of the show, the university student had to expand the scope of his project significantly, when the footballing organizations he worked with asked if the system could also track player performance.

“All of a sudden, I had to conduct much more research than I had already planned to and test a revamped system. I had to prove that everything worked – every single part – or it would not pass the engineering phase,” said Al-Qassabi.

Joining Al-Qassabi is Yemeni biomedical engineer Mugeb AlHarosh, the proud inventor of a Portable Renal Blood Flowmeter. The device functions via non-invasive biosensors attached to the skin, diagnosing preliminary kidney damage. With data uploaded to physicians through wireless networks, the benefits include more efficient utilization of resources by minimizing face-to-face consultations.

However, the development process of this ambitious technology was not the most difficult challenge AlHarosh had to face during the season. He tested positive for COVID-19 right before the season started, forcing him to join his Stars of Science peers in Qatar a month late.

“During quarantine, I had major doubts about many of my decisions, including my decision to participate in this season. However, my wife encouraged me to follow this longtime dream of mine and thanks to her, I was able to bring my Portable Renal Blood Flowmeter to life on Stars of Science,” said AlHarosh.

Ousama Kanawati, another finalist hailing from Lebanon, earned a spot in the Top 4 with his invention, the Wearable Omni Stethoscope Vest. The device drastically impacts the way we monitor chronic respiratory diseases – a threat posed to millions of patients globally. This invention monitors patients’ lungs by combining numerous digital stethoscopes and wireless technology, conducting analyses that it then sends to the attending physician’s phone with a warning if abnormalities are detected.

Majoring in computer science and engineering, with little background in biomedical engineering, Kanawati’s project pushed his boundaries all season long. However, he seemed to thrive under pressure.

“My comfort zone lies in engineering and being surrounded by engineers. I wanted to push myself and explore something different to what I am used to. That’s why my invention focuses on biomedical engineering while utilizing the computer science and engineering skills I am familiar with,” said Kanawati.

Rounding off the group is Riadh Abdelhedi, Tunisian PhD holder in electrical and electronic engineering. He designed a Hybrid Power Bank, portable power storage system that combines lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitor technology, enabling it to charge up to full capacity in a matter of minutes.

The uniqueness of the device presented several hurdles for him, due to its compact nature and hybrid system of dual technologies.

“I needed many experiments to prove the reliability of my innovation. Stars of Science provided me with all the support I needed to undergo my invention testing, from experts to labs, facilities and equipment,” said Abdelhedi.

Stars of Science’s Top 4 innovators will make the case for their inventions in the Grand Finale, set to air on Friday, October 22, where the jury deliberation and online voting will determine the ranking and final share of the $600,000 prize (terms and conditions apply).

Online voting is now open for the public on www.starsofscience.com and ends on Thursday, October 21, at 2pm GMT (5pm Doha time).

To apply to be on Stars of Science Season 14 and earn a chance to win the title of the Arab world’s top innovator, visit www.starsofscience.info.

About Stars of Science

As the premier innovation show in the Arab world, Stars of Science – the edutainment TV initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF) – empowers Arab innovators to develop technological solutions for their communities aiming to improve people’s well-being, provide financial opportunities to their local citizens, and advance sustainable development.

Over a 12-week process, the contestants demonstrate the effectiveness of their solutions in a shared innovation space, competing against time with the support of a team of experienced engineers and product developers.

An expert panel of jurors assess and eliminate innovators and their projects every week across several prototyping and testing rounds, until only four finalists remain to compete for a share of $600,000 (terms and conditions apply). Jury deliberation and online voting from the public determine the rankings.

Stars of Science will air every Friday and Saturday on TV and online, from September 10^th, 2021 till October 22^nd, 2021. Please visit the broadcast guide for channels and timings: starsofscience.com 

Apply to be on Stars of Science Season 14 to become the next innovator, visit www.starsofscience.info

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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, research and development, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, 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.

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