The applications for the upcoming season 15 of Qatar Foundation’s Stars of Science are open. It invites Arab youth aiming to become agents of change in their communities to apply for the opportunity to join an illustrious innovator community. The event recently welcomed the show’s first female winner in its history, Sumaiya Said Sulaiman Al Siyabi who claimed the title of ‘Best Arab Innovator’ for season 14 by securing the highest score from the show’s jury and audience with her “Remediation and Disposal of Micro-Plastics” project.
A floating sphere comprised of microbial mats and nanomaterials that accelerate the dissolution of micro-plastics it comes into contact with, her environmentally friendly device will float among patches of plastic garbage in our oceans, trapping and disposing of microplastics that break free.
Al Siyabi said that Stars of Science provided tailored support that ensured she and her fellow contestants could bring their inventions to life while also furthering their development as innovators. “The show gave us unparalleled access to scientific and industry experts as well as cutting edge research and development tools to use however we needed to. Personally, engaging with the show’s jury and other thought leaders from a variety of fields gave me the confidence to publically present my project and win the support of potential investors.”
With 161 innovators representing 18 Arab countries, the Stars of Science’s alumni community are actively contributing toward a productive entrepreneurial culture within the region. As ambassadors of scientific research and innovation, they represent local drivers of change in their communities and a network which incoming participants can reach out to and collaborate with long after their time on the show.
Alumnus and season 12 winner Waddah Malaeb recently secured further investment for his groundbreaking Stars of Science project, the Ductal Organoid-on-a-Chip, and his biomedical research and development startup, DLOC Biosystems, in the UK. Forbes Middle East named Malaeb as one of their “30 under 30” most promising young entrepreneurs pioneers, and creatives throughout the MENA region for 2022. Alumnus Ahmad Al Ghazi developed his idea while on the show into a viable product, eventually starting a Silicon Valley-based company, ‘CAN mobilities’, to launch his invention, Can Go, the technologically augmented walking cane, to the market.
Those interested to apply for Stars of Science season 15 can register by December 30, 2022 on the website www.starsofscience.info, where they can also learn more about the alumni, innovations, and what their successes could mean for them.
