Doha: Qatar Foundations Stars of Science program announced that seven contestants have qualified to enter the decisive “Proof of Concept” stage, after going through three rounds of eliminations during its Season 16 During this stage, competitors seek to prove their superior capabilities and scientific knowledge, as they will present their ideas to the jury, to win a share of the grand prize.
Candidates will submit an innovative proposal that addresses major regional and global challenges, while highlighting the advantages of the developments in the field of research, and technologies for accessing information in an unprecedented way.
On this occasion, Innovation Consultant and member of the Stars of Science jury, Professor Fouad Mrad said that the program plays a fundamental role in guiding young minds to create innovations of importance and effectiveness that serve the future of our region.
He stressed the importance of developing solutions that meet the needs of the Arab world, especially innovations in
the field of artificial intelligence.
As for the qualifiers, Khadija Falah Arabi from Algeria, who holds a PhD in biomedical devices, seeks to develop a smart wearable device that relies on artificial intelligence to monitor blood glucose levels via external electrocardiogram technology, without the need to penetrate the skin.
On mental health, Emma Sleiman, a medical student at the American University of Beirut, is working with her team to develop a multimodal classification device to provide virtual reality technology to diagnose Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
To avoid the exorbitant cost of some biomedical treatments, which can exceed USD 1 million per patient, as is the case with gene therapy, Syrian inventor Yaman Tayyar, who holds a PhD from Griffith University in Australia, is developing a micro-fluidic mixer to manufacture the lipid nanoparticles necessary to create and deliver gene therapy in a simplified manner, and make it available to researchers around the world at reasonable
prices.
In an attempt to address the challenge of antibiotic resistance, which results in the death of about 700,000 people annually worldwide, Mariam Montaser from Egypt, who holds a masters degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, is developing a tool to test for bacterial infections of the respiratory system, by examining a sample from the nasopharynx and changing the colorimetric measurement, to determine the bacterial characteristics, which helps patients make informed decisions about taking antibiotics.
In the field of healthcare, Tunisian inventor Haitham Yahyaoui, who holds a PhD in computer science from the University of Quebec, is working on a mobile application for early detection of Alzheimers disease, using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to analyze the linguistic and acoustic features of recorded voices.
With the increasing global interest in environmental sustainability, Nada Raafat Al-Kharashi, who holds a masters
degree in multidisciplinary design from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, has found a solution to the millions of tons of electronic waste produced annually, as she has developed a self-powered bio-adhesive (electric skin), made of a biomaterial that generates energy from air humidity, through protein nanowires made from bacteria, capable of operating small electronic devices.
While relying on modern technology to preserve cultural heritage is interesting, Sanaa Belktbi, an ICT engineer specializing in embedded systems in Morocco, is developing a drone to inspect mosques, equipped with an RGB camera and supported by machine learning to analyze the internal structures of mosques, creating a unique blend of ancient heritage and modern technology with her invention.
Stars of Science, the edutainment TV show by Qatar Foundation, began its 16th season, from September 7 and is continuing until Oct. 19, 2024, on several channels and online.
The program is considered a platform for Arab inventors, support
ing the transformation of their ideas into practical solutions, making it a leading program in the field of innovation in the Arab world, and aims to support and encourage aspiring entrepreneurs in the field of science and technology in the region.
Source: Qatar News Agency