A New Era of Women in STEM on Qatar Foundation's Edutainment
Show
DOHA,
Qatar, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Five out of
seven — that's the groundbreaking number of female contestants in
season 16 of Stars of Science. This historic representation
is more than just a statistic; it is a testament to the quiet yet
powerful revolution unfolding in the Arab world, within the
laboratories, workshops, and brilliant minds of these female
innovators. This season does not simply shine a spotlight on
their achievements; it celebrates a shift in what it means to be a
woman in STEM, challenging age-old gender norms and redefining
innovation across the Arab world.
Since its inception, Stars of Science has
supported 37 female alumnae, enabling them to develop countless
brilliant innovative ideas that would eventually become products or
services. In a recent previous season Eiman
Al-Hamad from Qatar landed
third place with her Arabic conversation fraud detection program,
and for the first time, a woman—Omani scientific researcher and
mother of three, Soumaiya Al Siyabi—was crowned the winner. The
barriers that once seemed insurmountable are crumbling, with the
women of season 16 leading the charge.
Historically, women have faced significant barriers in STEM
fields, but the Arab world is witnessing a profound shift.
According to UNESCO, countries such as Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi
Arabia are recording higher percentages of female STEM
graduates than many Western nations. Dr Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah,
Qatar's Permanent Representative
to the United Nations Office in Geneva, spoke at the International
Telecommunication Union's celebration of International Girls in ICT
Day, highlighting the importance of enhancing and empowering women.
Dr Al Muftah noted that in 2021,
women made up 70% of graduates in fields such as information
systems, computer engineering, general engineering, medicine,
pharmacy, and sciences. She emphasised that providing access to
technology is essential for transforming Qatar into a knowledge-based economy that is
inclusive of all, particularly women. This surge reflects a broader
societal transformation, where women are increasingly recognised as
key contributors to scientific and technological advancements.
The innovative ideas of the women in Stars of
Science season 16 are more than technical achievements —
they are powerful catalysts for change, addressing critical
challenges in the Arab world and beyond. From Khadidja Fellah
Arbi's work in healthcare with her 'ECG-based glucometer'to
Emma Sleiman's efforts in enhancing
the diagnosis of ADHD in children with the 'ADHD multimodel
classifier,' their contributions are filling critical gaps in
regional healthcare.
Nada Raafat Elkharashi and Mariam
Montaser are setting new standards in sustainability and
healthcare. Elkharashi's achievements in sustainable technology
with a 'Self-powering biosticker' and Montaser's 'Testing kit for
bacterial respiratory infections' highlight the pivotal role women
in STEM play in addressing global issues. Meanwhile, Sanaa
Belkoutbi's 'Drone structure inspector inside mosques' demonstrates
how women in STEM can uniquely blend cultural preservation with
modern engineering, ensuring that progress does not come at the
expense of heritage.
Female enrolment in STEM programmes continues to rise,
reflecting the growing recognition of women's vital role in these
fields. Platforms like Stars of Science, championed by Qatar
Foundation, are pivotal in driving this transformation, offering
essential visibility and unwavering support that empower women to
excel and lead.
As Sarah Aboerjaib, a distinguished alumna and guest mentor of
Stars of Science, stated: "As women, we invent not
just to create, but also to inspire. Every invention is a
story of resilience, a testament to the power of imagination, and a
beacon for those who dare to dream beyond
boundaries."
Season 16 of Stars of Science is more than just a
competition; it marks the dawn of a new era. The future of STEM in
the Arab world is driven by the determination of these
extraordinary women. As they forge ahead, they're not just playing
the game — they are rewriting the rules. The future is female, and
it has never looked more promising.
Stars of Science airs from 7
September 2024 to 19 October
2024 on five channels in the region and online. Please visit
the broadcast guide for channels and timings.
About Stars of Science:
Throughout 16 years of success, Stars of Science – the
edutainment TV initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF) – has leveraged
its position as the premier innovation show in the Arab world to
empower Arab innovators to successfully transform innovative ideas
into tangible solutions, strengthening the culture of innovation
among Arab youth. In its sustained journey that started in 2009,
the show has demonstrated how young Arab innovators develop
technological solutions for their communities, aiming to improve
people's well-being, provide financial opportunities to their local
citizens, and advance sustainable development.
Over a 12-week process, the contestants develop their solutions
experimentally in a shared innovation space, competing against time
with the mentorship and support of a team of experienced engineers
and product developers.
An expert panel of jurors assesses and selects more promising
innovators and their projects every week across several prototyping
and testing rounds until three finalists remain to compete for a
share of the Grand Prize. Jury deliberation and online voting from
the public determine the rankings of the two top winners.
To know more about Stars of Science, please visit:
Website, Facebook, X, Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok, and LinkedIn.
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