The Stars of Science candidates Hassan Albalawi of Saudi Arabia and Yaman Abou Jieb of Syria outshone the competition in the first design episode of Stars of Science on MBC4, reaching 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. On Stars of Science, the 12 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." These finalists share the $600,000 prize, with the winner chosen by jury deliberation and public vote in a special live final episode. — SG
