Record number of candidates selected for QF’s Stars of Science

The race to become the Arab world’s next top innovator has begun, with ideas including a nursing bottle that keeps children’s teeth healthy and a new approach to supporting people with prosthetic devices being showcased during the casting stage of Qatar Foundation’s Stars of Science TV show.

The opening three episodes of Season 11 of the groundbreaking edutainment TV initiative saw aspiring innovators present their technological solutions for an array of challenges. And the largest group in the show’s history – 31 candidates – have now advanced to the selection round, taking them one step closer to winning the title and a share of $600,000 in seed funding.

Following the record number of participation and success of women last season, Stars of Science has become the leading platform for Arab women to challenge existing stereotypes and highlight their triumphs. In Season 11’s opening episodes, the show has again emphasized the role of women in innovation and their accomplishments in varying scientific fields.

Stars of Science’s latest season has a brand-new format that focuses on collaboration and sustainability, with various changes being made to the casting phase that eased the pressure on potential contestants and encouraged open dialogue amongst peers and alumni - several of which co-hosted the casting episodes, including Season 1o contestant Anna Malek; Season 10 finalist Dr. Nour Majbour; and Season 6 contestant Walaa Aniba.

“Stars of Science has been a driver of innovation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the Arab region for over a decade,” said Stars of Science jury member Professor Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry. “Coming from a medical background, I am delighted to see that this year’s ideas address modern problems using innovative technologies, especially in the biomedical field.

“I am also proud of our alumni, who demonstrated that they knew how to provide detailed critiques of candidates and their inventions and ask all the right questions.”

The casting episode featured innovators whose projects proposed to solve problems in all realms by utilizing technology in creative and novel ways. Ideas included a nursing bottle that aims to target the dental health of infants, while another standout concept was a self-charging battery for prosthetics that charges itself through the patient’s movement.

“The consistent passion, creativity, and dedication we have seen throughout the casting stage has shown us the sheer amount of talent young Arabs have when they are provided with a supportive platform,” said scientist Dr. Nour Majbour, who secured second place in Season 10. “This is a unique environment in our part of the world, and I am happy to do my part in nurturing a new generation of Arab innovators.”

To begin their Stars of Science journey and prepare for the jury’s extensive questioning, candidates gave short presentations to new and old competitors. This acted as an initial screening for the jury – who monitored every candidate’s performance behind the scenes – giving them time to reflect and formulate deeper questions, with the contestants then having the chance to explain their concepts further in one-on-one interviews with each jury member.

The show’s next installment – the selection episode – will air on Friday, October 4, on Qatar TV, and on Saturday, October 5, on eight channels across the region and online. Following the jury’s choice of the most promising innovations, the top eight will travel to the Stars of Science laboratories in Qatar Science & Technology Park – part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development, and Innovation – to develop their prototypes in the state-of-the-art shared innovation space and turn their ideas into a reality.

For a full broadcast guide to Stars of Science Season 11 – which will air until November 9 – visit www.starsofscience.com