Qatar Foundation's (QF) Stars of Science TV programme revealed Sunday the three contestants who qualified for the final stage to win the title of Top Arab Innovator, in the aftermath of a fierce competition witnessed during the past weeks.
Nada al-Kharashi, Haitham Yahyaoui and Yaman Tayar passed all the rounds of the competition, becoming just one step away from winning the grand prize in the final episode of the Stars of Science 16th season scheduled to air next Saturday.
Egyptian contestant al-Kharashi said she was able to complete her project that aims to generate energy from air humidity by using protein nanowires made from bacteria thus providing energy to communities that lack its sources.
She explained that her project opens new horizons for renewable energy and that her invention is not only related to science but also leaves a lasting impact.
Tunisian contestant Yahyaoui said that his innovation is an application for early detection of Alzheimer's disease and his project relies on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques to analyse the linguistic and phonetic features of recorded voices.
The application may represent a turning point in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, Yahyaoui said.
Syrian contestant Tayyar explained that his innovation is a low-cost device that repairs or replaces defective genes for those suffering from genetic disorders and diseases.
Tayyar said that thanks to the Stars of Science programme, gene therapy can become available to everyone.
Beginning with initial designs to now prototypes competing for the grand prize, the three contestants went through the stages of developing their innovation during the programme's 16th season, highlighting their creativity and ability in passing rigorous development stages.
Voting is now open on www.starsofscience.com and will end next Friday at 6pm Doha time. The season finale will air on Saturday. The winners will be determined based on the jury's vote and the public's online vote.
The 16th season of Stars of Science, an educational and entertainment TV initiative launched by QF, began airing on September 7 and will wrap up on October 19 airing on five channels in the region as well as through streaming.
Stars of Science represents a key platform for Arab inventors that transforms ideas into practical solutions, making it a leading program in the Arab world in the field of innovation. It aims to support and encourage aspiring entrepreneurs in science and technology in the region.
Over the course of 12 weeks, contestants develop and present their solutions through scientific experiments within a shared innovation space done in a limited timeframe and with the guidance and support of a group of experienced engineers and product developers.
Each week, a panel of experts evaluates and selects the projects and prototypes of promising innovators through testing rounds until only three remain to compete for the Top Arab Innovator title and the grand prize. The deliberations of the jury as well as online public voting determine first and second-place winners in each season.
