Hassan Dominates While Yaman Outscores Fawzy on Dramatic Stars of Science Episode on MBC4, DOHA, Qatar
The Stars of Science candidates Hassan Albalawi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yaman Abou Jieb of Syria, outshone the competition in the first design episode of Stars of Science on MBC4, landing them in the finale of the “edutainment reality” TV program initiated by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF). Jurors overwhelmingly favored the confident Hassan, who outscored the dauntless Yaman by 15 points to come in first place. Heartbreakingly for his many fans, Fawzy Othman of Tunisia came in third by just three points and was forced to bow out of the competition.
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On Stars of Science, the twelve most promising young innovators in the Arab world vie to develop prototypes of their ideas. The candidates, who are aged 18 to 30, travel to Doha, Qatar, where they benefit from the help of world-class engineering and design specialists at Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation. In QSTP’s laboratories, they inspire millions as they compete to develop their ideas from concepts to potential products. The show serves as a tool to unlock human potential in the next generation of aspiring young science and technology innovators, and is in-line with QF’s mission of fostering a culture of quality and excellence.
In the design stage, candidates compete in groups of three to transform their working prototype into an attractive and functional product. Stakes ran high as Hassan, Yaman and Fawzy worked against the clock with the knowledge that one of them would fall short of making it into this season’s final four. Fifty percent of the candidates’ score was determined by their industrial design prowess, while their products’ marketability counted for 30 percent. Resourcefulness and leadership demonstrated by the candidates comprised 20 percent of the final score.
Tasked with evaluating the young entrepreneurs is the Stars of Science jury, a panel of three experts in science, technology and design. Permanent juror Mr. Yussif Abdulrahman Saleh, General Manager of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Center joined his counterpart Professor Fouad Mrad, Executive Director of the United Nations ESCWA regional technology center. James Law, an award-winning architect and innovative design advocate, as well as founder and CEO of James Law Cybertecture International, completed the panel.
After weeks spent working on their inventions, candidates vigorously pitched to the expectant jurors. Hassan, delivered a well-practiced, convincing defense of his EEG Cap Analyzer device, dubbed “Wakecap,” which is designed to detect and warn for drowsiness. Opting for a hard hat model, Hassan demonstrated how his product would protect construction workers, for whom alertness is paramount for safety. James Law was particularly impressed, congratulating him for skillfully achieving a balance between functionality and design.
Fawzy presented to the jury next, energetically explaining how “Foz,” his Robotic Goalie Trainer, could allow football goalies to customize their workouts without having to rely on others to perfect their craft. The “Foz” shoots footballs while switching the angle, pitch and distance of the shots quickly to give goalies a challenge while defending the net. The jurors praised the aesthetics of Fawzy’s prototype, but faulted him for being too complicated in his design.
Yaman went third, giving the jury a glimpse of “Glean,” his Solar Washing Machine. By designing the invention to be compact and efficient, Yaman argued that “Glean” would save water and energy, extending the convenience of washing machines to more people around the world. Though he encountered near disastrous setbacks during the design stage, Yaman’s firm confidence showed in his presentation. Jurors noted the impressiveness of his idea, but cautioned him to not be too brash.
When the results were announced, Hassan’s simple and effective prototype won the day, earning him a large margin of victory. Yaman was able to beat Fawzy by a mere three points, securing a spot in the final episode next to Hassan.
“I am overjoyed and grateful that my hard work has gotten me into the final,” said Hassan after the episode. “My journey, like any other, started with an idea. Stars of Science helped to advance the realization of that idea so much in such a short period of time. My mission now is to seize this opportunity and aim for a victory in the final episode.”
“The Stars of Science candidates have a responsibility to use the power of design to make the world a safer, more sustainable, and more enjoyable place,” said James Law. “Today, these young innovators showed us how ingenuity in design, when applied judiciously, can result in useful inventions that make our lives easier.”
The second Stars of Science design episode, which will air on MBC4 Friday, November 13th at 7PM KSA/ 4PM GMT, will feature the remaining three candidates in a showdown that will determine two more finalists. These finalists share the $600,000 prize, with the winner chosen by jury deliberation and public vote in a special live final episode.
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Stars of Science
Stars of Science, an “edutainment reality” TV format initiated by Qatar Foundation, is the region’s leading innovation program. Stars of Science fosters and advances the Arab world’s aspiring science and technology entrepreneurs. In this seventh season, 12 candidates are challenged to prove their resourcefulness during critical stages of the innovation cycle while collaborating with industry leading mentors. An expert panel of jurors assesses and eliminates candidates and their innovative products in Engineering and Design episodes until only four remain. These four finalists vie for a share of a $600,000 prize, determined by a jury deliberation and voting from the public.
Stars of Science airs from Friday, September 18th, to Friday, November 20th, 2015 on MBC4.
Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF) is a private, non-profit organization that is supporting Qatar on its journey from a 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, the Father Emir, QF is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
QF’s work encompasses education, research and community development. World-class universities are brought to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy. At the same time, QF builds Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercializing solutions through key sciences. The Foundation also works to foster a progressive society while enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar’s heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.
About MBC Group
MBC Group (Middle East Broadcasting Center) is the largest and leading private media company in the Middle East & North Africa region. For the past 23 years, MBC Group was able to enrich people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment. In 2002, nearly a decade after the launch of MBC1 in London, back in 1991, and as the 1st private free-to-air Arab satellite TV channel, MBC Group moved its headquarters to Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, where it remains.
Today, MBC Group includes 20 TV channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment); MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour western movies); MBC3 (children’s edutainment with a mix of both local productions and western acquisitions); MBC4 (entertainment for young families with a female-focus); MBC Action (an indigenous adrenaline-packed channel targeting young males with local and homegrown productions); MBC Variety (Western films and general entertainment with uninterrupted broadcasting); Al Arabiya News Channel (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Al Hadath (an extension of Al Arabiya News Channel with a specific focus on real events in the Arab world and beyond); Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel); MBC DRAMA (24/7 Arabic drama); MBC MASR (general family entertainment geared towards the Egyptian family); MBC MASR 2 (providing the Egyptian audience with superior quality entertainment, in addition to live coverage of some of the Egyptian league’s football matches); MBC + Drama (a joint paid-for channel between MBC and OSN); MBC Bollywood (delivering the freshest in Bollywood content geared towards the region via an Arabized interface); and most recently four sports channels, MBC PRO SPORTS (geared towards the “Saudi Football Premier League” fans in the Kingdom); and MBC USA (the channel is present on “Dish Network” in the US, and targets Arab audiences aboard; the channel is dedicated to offer and broadcast a wide range of content from the prominent MBC channels including movies, series and global formats).
In July 2011, seven channels within MBC Group began to broadcast in HD across the MENA Region: MBC1 HD, MBC2 HD, MBC4 HD, MBC Action HD, MBC Drama HD, MBC Max HD and Al Arabiya HD. In 2013, MBC3 HD joined the collection of HD channels followed by MBC Variety HD in 2014.
MBC Group also includes two FM radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music) and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 Productions, a premium content drama production company. Furthermore, MBC Group includes online platforms: , (the first free VOD and catch-up portal in the Arab world) and , and http://www.mbcprosports.net among others.
Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.
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