QATAR FOUNDATION’S LEADING INNOVATION PROGRAM STARS OF SCIENCE RETURNS WITH SEASON 7 ON MBC4

Pioneering Initiative Features Region’s Most Talented Innovators

Doha, Qatar, 14 September 2015 – Stars of Science, the most unique and thrilling search for the world’s best Arab innovator, returns this fall on MBC4 for its seventh season. The ‘edutainment’ reality television program, initiated by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), will feature its most talented innovators to date due to overwhelming numbers of top-notch applicants.

Serving as a tool to unlock human potential in the next generation of aspiring science and technology innovators, Stars of Science is in-line with QF’s mission of fostering a culture of quality and excellence. Since the program’s inception, millions of viewers across the region have witnessed inspirational young Arabs embark on a transformative journey, hoping to join the next generation of great inventors. Season 7 will premiere on Friday, 18th September at 7pm KSA / 4pm GMT on MBC4.

Twelve young science and technology entrepreneurs are selected in a casting tour that brings them to Doha, Qatar, where they are challenged to develop their project ideas while focusing on critical stages of the innovation cycle, from engineering to design. Viewers witness a jury comprised of influential entrepreneurs, designers, and tech experts eliminate candidates and their products until only four remain. These finalists’ resourcefulness, stamina, and ingenuity are rewarded in the program’s live final episode, in which a jury deliberation and public voting determine the winner.

“Stars of Science accelerates the development of up-and-coming Arab innovators by sharing with them the resources present in Qatar’s thriving technological and research environment,” explained Engineer Saad Ebrahim Al Muhannadi, President of Qatar Foundation. “When Stars of Science candidates succeed, so do the communities around them. Successful entrepreneurs stimulate economic growth, establish science and technology as viable and attractive academic and professional fields, and, above all, give us hope for our future.”

In order to find the region’s best and brightest, Stars of Science jurors travel around the Arab world on a casting tour during the program’s first four episodes. From among thousands of applications, 12 candidates will be chosen to travel to the Stars of Science laboratories in Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), within Education City, Doha. There, they work with mentors to refine their ideas and build prototypes of their inventions. Their resolve is tested in elimination episodes, during which a jury evaluates their engineering and design skills. The four finalists who survive the elimination rounds earn a share of the USD600,000 prize, with the winner being determined in a special live final episode.

“Tens of thousands of young innovators have applied to take part in Stars of Science throughout the program’s seven-year history,” said Youssif Abdulrahman Saleh, long-time juror and General Manager of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre at QSTP. “This year’s applicants possess an abundance of talent and unique life experience, as well as impressive academic credentials. It will truly be a daunting challenge to narrow the field to only 12 candidates.”

Alumni of Stars of Science serve as role models for Arab youth and ambassadors for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. They have dedicated hundreds of hours to community service, having participated in workshops, conferences, and TEDx talks to inspire Arab youth across the region. Many have launched successful products and founded companies in the region. Others share their expertise at international forums or give advice to aspiring innovators. The 92 candidates who have appeared on Stars of Science so farhave filed 76 patents and founded 17 companies. Stars of Science’s viewers can engage with one another on the program’s active social media pages – the show’s Facebook page has more than 2 million likes, and its Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram channels combine to have over 50,000 followers. The Stars of Science website will continue to offer many features designed to enrich the viewing experience.

Stars of Science Season 7 will see the return of Khaled Al Jumaily as host of the program. Viewers will see 12 innovators compete against each other as they develop their ideas from concept to commercialization in 10 prime time episodes. Their full journey can also be seen in the accompanying daily episodes that start airing on Saturday, 10th October at 4pm KSA/1pm GMT on MBC4. Season 7 will culminate in a live final in which voting from the public and a jury deliberation will determine the winner.

For further information, please contact:

Alexander M. Wegner or Hanane Rougani
T + 974 44364385
Please visit:
Website - www.starsofscience.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StarsofScienceTV
Twitter - https://twitter.com/starsofscience
Youtube- http://www.youtube.com/user/Starsofsciencetv
Instagram- starsofsciencetv

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Stars of Science Season 7 will again spark creativity

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Mohammed Al Housani won Stars of Science Season 6

Stars of Science launched its seventh season at a press conference

The host of Stars of Science Mr. Khaled Al Jumaily

Launch press conference of the seventh season of Stars of Science.

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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 18 September to Friday 20 November 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.
http://www.qf.org.qa/

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: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, www.shahid.net (the first free VOD and catch-up portal in the Arab world) and www.actionha.net, and www.mbcprosports.net among others.