Qatar Foundation’s edutainment show, Stars of Science, announced that applications for its upcoming Season 16 are now open, inviting aspiring Arab innovators to apply for an opportunity to join the show and transform their innovative ideas into tangible solutions.
Alumni of the Stars of Science community at Qatar Science & Technology Park.
Since its inception in 2009, Stars of Science has generated an extensive network of local and international partnerships. Comprising 168 members from 18 Arab countries, the show’s alumni community underscores the region’s potential for scientific excellence and innovation.
Top Arab innovators
Season 15 Top Arab Innovator, robotics engineer Mohammed Abbas Albumijdad from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, created a crawler robot – ‘Wall-Bot’ – designed specifically to monitor large vertical spaces and for various purposes, including the inspection of dams and skyscrapers, as well as bridges for cracks, cleaning and other purposes in hard-to-reach or hazardous areas.
Albumijdad said he is proud to be the first Saudi winner in Stars of Science and dedicated the win to his countrymen. He shared that his journey had its fair share of challenges, but he is happy that it eventually led to the creation of the first robotic prototype that will help engineers around the world in their inspection of building sites, with the potential to save countless human lives per year.
He said that this would not have been possible without the support provided by Stars of Science.
Last year saw the crowning of the show’s first female winner, Sumaiya Al Siyabi, whose passion for marine life led to the creation of the device, ‘Remediation and Disposal of Micro-Plastics’. The invention can trap and dispose of microplastics in large water bodies.
As a working mother and scientist, Al Siyabi said she is grateful for the support from Stars of Science in realising her entrepreneurial ambitions. She encourages all aspiring innovators to apply for the next season as the show is an incredible platform that can turn visions into reality and change the world.
Season 14 alumnus Youcef Fermi is currently working as the lead research and development engineer of atmospheric plasma innovative applications in France. He is on the precipice of transforming the automotive industry by disrupting the traditional method of producing hydrogen gas through ground-breaking technology, also known as the plasma torch downstream process.
He shared that his experience as a Stars of Science candidate transformed his mindset.
As an academic, he said he had assumed that developing an innovative device to market standards would take years. However, the programme, with its network of high-level experts, provided him with all the knowledge and resources needed to accelerate the production process from idea to market in just three months.
Recognising the importance of fostering the next generation of Arab innovators through global collaborations and mentorships, Stars of Science organised a trip to Hong Kong for the three finalists of Season 15, taking them to the heart of technological advancement at Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science Park.
There, they got the opportunity to engage and forge connections with rising tech enterprises and build active synergies that will drive forward the future of technology and innovation.
Visit starsofscience.com to learn more about the Stars of Science alumni, innovations and what their successes could mean for you. To apply for Stars of Science Season 16, submit your application at starsofscience.info. The deadline for submission of applications is on 1 December.
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