Stars of Science 4 – Selected Candidates Revealed in Doha

Judges Select 16 Young Arab innovators Amid Tough Competition

Doha, 30 September 2012: Unique docu-reality TV show Stars of Science has announced this season’s 16 candidates who will proceed to the next round in Episode 3, aired on MBC4.

The Jury selection, which follows an eight-week casting tour, has identified the 16 candidates to take part in the ‘proof of concept’ stage, where the young innovators will be asked to scientifically validate their ideas by proving that their concept can be successfully created and made operational within a three-month timeframe.

The 16 candidates are:

• Ahmad Ramahi – Interactive Learning Wall – PALESTINE
• Aisha Saleh – Follower Cart – UAE
• Amina Al Hawaj – Lower Limb Rehabilitation Device – BAHRAIN
• Amine Gaabab – Automatic Irrigation System – TUNSIA
• Aynour Tatanaki – Programmable Fashion Shoes – LYBIA
• Hekmat Alrouh – Frozen Food Thaw Indicator Stamp- SYRIA
• Jaber Henzab – Automated Home Pharmacy – QATAR
• Khaled Eid – 3D Holographic Screen- KUWAIT
• Khalid Aboujassoum – Automated Home Cooking Pot- QATAR
• Mahmoud Shattel – Efficient Vertical Wind Turbine – JORDAN
• Mohammed Eliyan – Mobile Phone Based Diabetes Smart Exhale Test –JORDAN
• Mohammed Watfa – Virtual Desktop Computer- LEBANON
• Nadi Chemali – Stairs Movement Smart Music Composer – LEBANON
• Saud El Shammari – Mechanical shoes for orthopedic patient – KSA
• Wael Hasan – Arabic programming language – EGYPT
• Yousef Al Hashash – Housing Architecture CAD Practical User Interface- KSA

Now in its 4th season, Stars of Science was initiated by Qatar Foundation and focuses on discovering and nurturing innovation in science and technology among Arab youth.

Stars of Science Season Four consists of eight prime-time episodes, plus a live finale where the public will be invited to vote alongside the Jury. Episode 4 will be shown on Thursday 4th October (8:00PM KSA), with daily updates from 6th October (5:00 KSA) on MBC4, building up to the live finale on November 8th 2012. The program is hosted by Khaled Jumaily for a fourth season.

For the latest updates log on to:
www.starsofscience.com
https://www.facebook.com/StarsofScienceTV
http://twitter.com/starsofscience
http://www.youtube.com/starsofsciencetv
These sites also include information on the application process for Stars of Science Season Five, which is already accepting submissions.

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development is a private, non-profit organization that is supporting Qatar on its journey from 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, Amir of Qatar, QF is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

QF carries out its mission through three strategic pillars: education, science and research, and community development.  QF’s education pillar brings world-class universities to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy.  Meanwhile, its science and research pillar builds Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercializing solutions through key sciences.  Finally, its community development pillar helps foster a progressive society while also 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 Stars of Science
Stars of Science is an original TV format, initiated by Qatar Foundation, which has been broadcast on over 17 TV channels throughout the Arab world. Currently in its fourth season, Stars of Science supports 16 young innovators who have an idea based on a novel scientific feature. Each project is developed for commercialization through several stages of the innovation cycle which includes proof of concept, engineering prototyping, design production and business feasibility.

The four finalists are ranked by a jury and viewers in a live show in which the winning products are launched. The finalists receive a total cash prize of $600,000 to help them develop their product further.

About MBC4
MBC4 is the Arab world’s first exclusive tailored channel for Women and young Arab Families. It broadcasts the latest in top-rated Western content entertainment in addition to locally produced flagship programming. The channel airs prime-time shows such as Dr. Oz, The Doctors Show, Numbers, Grey’s Anatomy, 90210, Pretty Little Liars, Mad Men, and the popular Turkish Drama soaps dubbed into Arabic.
Today, the channel is more geared towards MBC Group’s own local flagship productions, as well as towards some acquired Arabic content from across the MENA region. MBC4 successfully aired the biggest production ever in the Arab TV history: “ARABS GOT TALENT” and is currently in production for Season 2.

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 20 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 11 television channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour movies), MBC3 (children’s entertainment), MBC4 (entertainment for new Arab women), MBC Action (an indigenous Channel with local and homegrown productions), MBC Persia (24-hour movie channel dubbed in Farsi) , Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Al Arabiya Al Hadath (an extension of Al Arabiya News Channel)； Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel) and MBC DRAMA offers 24/7 Arabic Drama; 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 documentary production unit. It has also several online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, and www.shahid.net, the first free VOD and catch up portal in the Arab world.

As of July 2011, seven of MBC Group’s channels began to air in HD across the MENA Region; the channels are: MBC 1, MBC 2, MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC Drama, MBC Max and Al Arabiya News Channel.