By Ron Chen, Correspondent ASEAN Region
Four inventors on Qatar Foundation’s Star of Science set themselves apart this season, overcoming challenges posed by COVID-19, and earning their places in the Grand Finale.
In this week’s prototype testing episode, Ahmed Fathalla, Eiman Al Hamad, Mohammad Almogahwi, Sarah Aboerjaib, and WadahMalaeb took to the stage to prove that their projects met consumer needs, conducting user testing on their inventions.
“These talented Arab youths overcame incredible odds to reach this point in Season 12;conceiving and constructing their inventions under challenging circumstances and the eye of a watchful jury has been inspiring,” said Stars of Science’s long-time host, Khalid Al Jumaily.
“Everyone on the show, from the contestants to the experts andjury, showed perseverance and an unyielding dedication to scientific excellence.Stars of Scienceupholds a tradition of technological discovery and innovative thinking in the Arab region, and this season is no different.”
Two of the contestants excelled during prototype testing. Wadahmade great progress on his Ductal Organoid-on-a-Chip, pitching his idea to experts and potential users to gain validation of his product, while Eiman’s Arabic Conversation Fraud Detection program impressed experts as they praised its huge scale and ambition.
However, Mohammad’s Automated Hands-free Toothbrush made the user uncomfortable during testing, with its large size and the excessive amount of water used. Ahmed’s Educational Platform using Electronic Cubes engaged one young user, but it occasionally failed to register some of the child’s behaviors, and the data presented was unclear.
But it was Sarah who was ultimately sent home. Her Fractured Bone Optical Scanner failed to show convincing results, and the jury criticized the lack of comprehensive testing and deemed the project unproven.Despite being voted out, the Kuwaiti remained confident in her project, pledging to continue its development in the future. “My departure from the show does not implythat my idea was a failure, it just simply didn’t fit the criteria of the jury,” she said.
Mohammed Al-Jefairi, a topfour finalist on Season 9, assumed the role of co-host alongside Khalid Al Jumaily. He also told contestants that Stars of Scienceis only the beginning of their innovation journeys and that they must take advantage of the show’s alumni network in the future.
Ahmed, Eiman, Mohammad, and Wadahwill make the case for their inventions in the Grand Final airing on Friday, November 6, showing off their market readiness and determining their final share of the US$600,000 seed fund. Online viewers will also help determine the winner, as their votes count for 50 percent of the final score.
Online voting is now open on www.starsofscience.comand ends on Thursday, November 5, at 3PM GMT.
