Mentor on Qatar Foundation’s Stars of Science TV Khalid Al Mohannadi
DOHA: Marking a decade of success, Stars of Science, Qatar Foundation’s (QF) edutainment reality TV show, kicks off its 10th season today, on Al Rayyan Satellite Channel.
Through Stars of Science, in the past 10 years QF has achieved a major goal, which is to ignite the flames of curiosity and creativity among young people and to motivate young Arabs to believe in their innovative ideas.
As the next band of Arab innovators start battling it out to chase their dreams, Khalid Al Mohannadi, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing at Sidra Medicine and mentor on Qatar Foundation’s Stars of Science TV show spoke to The Peninsula on several aspects of the TV show.
“The success of the program over the last 10 years has only been possible thanks to the support of QF and the vision of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of QF. Her belief in the capabilities of Arab youth and their creative ideas is what has allowed the program to come this far,” said Al Mohannadi.
“The people behind the scenes at Stars of Science are constantly on the lookout for inventors with valuable ideas to introduce to the show and stimulate innovation, contributing to the success of the initiative. And another key factor in the popularity of Stars of Science is the uniqueness of a program like this in the Arab world,” he added.
The show, which was first broadcast in 2008, has cast the spotlight on the pace of innovation in science and technology, across the Arab world.
“In the beginning, when QF announced the program, people were skeptical. The idea, which was entirely new, was to be carried out on a site dedicated to scientific research – Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), a member of QF,” said Al Mohannadi, who was the Communication Director at QSTP in 2008.
“We had never done this kind of program before. Over time, however, we began to feel the positive impact of the program – how it has allowed QF to be a platform for young innovators in Arab countries. The reason for the longevity of the program is that it demonstrates that the Arab world is prepared to support inventors in much the same way as other countries are,” he added.
The growing participation in the program, year after year, is proof that QF’s ultimate goal for Stars of Science has been achieved - stimulating and encouraging thousands of innovative minds in the Arab world. Especially Qatari youth have showed an immense interest in participating in the show.
“QF has collaborated with several researchers and experts in the field of science and innovation to guide the participants and equip them with the required knowledge and skills. Stars of Science also aimed – and still aims – to support talents from different environments and diverse communities in order to inspire those watching from home to pursue their dreams, following the examples of the participants on the show,” said Al Mohannadi.
“The participation of young Qataris is heartening, making us optimistic about our young people and their potential for the future. In the previous seasons, five Qataris have reached the finals and two have gone onto win the grand prize. We are confident that the coming seasons of the program will see increased participation by our youth, who are clearly capable of excellence,” he added.
Stars of Science alumni are change-makers who aim to leave an impact on their communities, their countries, and beyond. Over the past ten years, 131 of the show’s alumni have raised $14m in revenue, crowdfunding, and research grants.
Many Stars of Science innovators have gone on to pursue their academic education, while almost 60 percent have gone on to start businesses and are currently contributing to their local communities through talks and other outreach activities.
“I was very impressed by GenomiQ, an invention by Sadeem Qdaisat back in Season 8 of Stars of Science, which deals with genetic testing. This type of testing is sometimes required for medical examinations to identify if a person has developed a disease. GenomiQ automates this process of genetic testing, with the ultimate aim of eliminating human error and cross contamination of samples,” said Al Mohannadi.
At Sidra Medicine, we were delighted to have a young man from the Arab world introduce such an updated to our existing equipment,” he added.
Accustomed to hard work, and passionate about problem-solving, every participant of Stars of Science pave the way for future generations of innovators as role models.
“My advice to anyone with creative ideas is to have complete confidence in their ability to transform them – however simple – into tangible inventions. The path to success lies in determination, research, and pursuit of success by seeking guiding opportunities. As I personally learned from my decade-long experience of Stars of Science, nothing is impossible, and someone with a strong desire will not give up – no matter what,” said Al Mohannadi.
The latest season of the show will be available on multiple channels throughout the region. It can also be viewed with subtitles on the ‘Stars of Science’s’ website, and YouTube platform.
