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About IBER
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TREx Programme 2021

TREx Programme 2021

Post author:iber
Post published:14/09/2021
Post category:Education / Events / Highlights / Stories

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Address:Institute For Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Universiti, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam
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A photograph capturing two migratory waterbirds, W

A photograph capturing two migratory waterbirds, Wood Sandpipers (Tringa glareola), engaged in a physical confrontation over foraging rights at Wasan Paddy Field.

Photograph by Joremy Tony.

Let's hear from Ms Syarfa Haziqah binti Johar from

Let's hear from Ms Syarfa Haziqah binti Johar from BruWILD, an NGO that focuses on biodiversity conservation. She is one of the participants in the National Workshop on Capacity Building for Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring.

The workshop is hosted by the UBD’s Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (KBFSC), in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and Singapore's National Parks Board, supported by the Japan-ASEAN Intergration Fund, and endorsed by the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe).

Thank you for participating in the workshop!

Participants in the 'National Workshop on Capacity

Participants in the 'National Workshop on Capacity Building for Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring' took part in field training at UBD's Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC).

This field training marked the conclusion of the national workshop.

We would like to thank everyone for their participation and support!

IBER team had a luncheon with the co-hosts and fac

IBER team had a luncheon with the co-hosts and facilitators of the National Workshop on Capacity Building for Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring:

- Ms Monina Ann Saguin & Ms Rhia Galsim (ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity)

- Mr Muhammad Gurfan bin Tahir & Mr Muhammad Fadhli bin Ahmad (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, National Parks Board, Singapore)

- Mr David N. Bakewell (Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch, Malaysia)

- Ms Noraisah binti Majri (Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Malaysia)

- Ms Kyle Esperanza Zuleta (East Asian - Australasian Flyway Partnership, South Korea)

- Ms Shirley Hee (Brunei Asian Waterbird Census)

Two IBER staff are also involved as facilitators of the national workshop, i.e., Dr Salwa Khalid and Mr Joremy Tony.

Ms Nurul Majjedah binti Mohd Zailani from the Muse

Ms Nurul Majjedah binti Mohd Zailani from the Museums Department is one of the participants in the National Workshop on Capacity Building for Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring. Let's hear from her about her participation in the workshop.

The national workshop is hosted by the UBD’s Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, and Singapore's National Parks Board. It is supported by the Japan-ASEAN Intergration Fund, and endorsed by the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe) under the Ministry of Development.

Thank you for participating in our training workshop!

Participants in the 'National Workshop on Capacity

Participants in the 'National Workshop on Capacity Building for Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring' engaged in field training at the Wasan Paddy Field, a wetland site.

Wetlands can be natural or man made, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, rice fields, ponds, freshwater swamps, and mangroves. Did you know that waterbirds are vital to wetland ecosystems? Their presence, population size, and trends at a site offer valuable insights into the health and quality of the wetland.

On 17 February 2025, participants in the 'National

On 17 February 2025, participants in the 'National Workshop on Capacity Building for Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring' took part in training sessions at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

The training sessions were led by the workshop facilitators, including Ms. Jennifer George (Chief Executive of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP)), Ms. Kyle Zuleta (Programme Officer, EAAFP), Ms. Shirley Hee (Coordinator of the Brunei Asian Waterbird Census), and Mr. David N. Bakewell (Project Lead Consultant, Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch).

On 17 February 2025, Puan Hajah Martinah binti Haj

On 17 February 2025, Puan Hajah Martinah binti Haji Tamit, Director of the Department of Environment, Parks, and Recreation (JASTRe) under the Ministry of Development, officiated the 'National Workshop on Capacity Building for Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring' as the Guest of Honour. Also in attendance was Puan Hajah Maudena binti Haji Abd Hamid, Acting Registrar & Secretary of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

The workshop is hosted by the UBD's Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and Singapore’s National Parks Board. Supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund and endorsed by JASTRe, the workshop aims to enhance Brunei’s capacity for monitoring migratory waterbirds and managing its wetlands.

During the opening ceremony, the Guest of Honour also launched a new poster titled ‘Waterbirds of Brunei Darussalam’, which showcases some of the waterbird species found in Brunei Darussalam. The poster was created by Dr Salwa Khalid (content), Nur Khalisah Ahmad (design) and Joremy Tony (photos).

The 5-day workshop will run from 17 to 21 February 2025.

@aseanbiodiversity
@nparksbuzz
@jaif_asean
@jastre.bn

UBD's Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC)

UBD's Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) is hosting another group of students from the University of Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Australia.

The UniSC students are participating in their annual tropical field course at KBFSC, which is part of a long standing collaboration between IBER and UniSc, supported by the UBD’s Office of Assistant Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement) through the Global Discovery Programme.

The students are accompanied by their instructors: Associate Professor Alison Shapcott, Professor Cathy Yule, and Associate Professor Volker Herzig.

Thank you for choosing KBFSC!

@unisc.australia

On February 13, 2025, His Excellency Michael Hoy,

On February 13, 2025, His Excellency Michael Hoy, the Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, visited the UBD's Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC).

During the visit, he was given a tour of Ashton Trail, and later joined a group of students from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Australia, who were conducting fieldwork at the Earthwatch Plot. Associate Professor Dr Alison Shapcott, the leader of the UniSC group, shared her research on Pinanga at KBFSC. The visit also included a tour of the centre.

Accompanying His Excellency were Mr Teddy Chua (KBFSC Supervisor) and Mr Farid Abdullah (IBER Research Assistant).

We thank His Excellency for coming to our centre. Hope you enjoyed your visit!

@duta.oz.bn

TREx 2025 is coming! 🌿🔬 🐾 Step into the

TREx 2025 is coming! 🌿🔬

🐾 Step into the muddy shoes of a field scientist and explore the hidden wonders of pristine rainforest biodiversity.

More details coming soon—stay tuned!

#TREx2025 #fieldresearch #iber #ubd #Biodiversity #brunei #borneo

IBER Seminar Series: SEMINAR 1: Discovery of nove

IBER Seminar Series:

SEMINAR 1: Discovery of novel pollination mutualisms in the Asian tropics

Presented by:
Professor Atsushi Kawakita
Botanical Gardens of the University of Tokyo, Japan.

SEMINAR 2: Hidden story on the pollination systems: fly pollination and diversity of pollination of Asian Asclepiadoideae

Presented by:
Dr Ko Mochizuki
Botanical Gardens of the University of Tokyo, Japan.

#iber #iberseminar #ubd #UBDBRC #botanicalgardens #pollination #Asclepiadoideae #ubd #UBDSDG

Nankeen night heron (Nycticorax caledonicus). Thi

Nankeen night heron (Nycticorax caledonicus).

This is a juvenile nankeen night heron. When it is mature, it develops a distinctive reddish-brown colour. It is commonly referred to as the rufous night heron because it is primarily nocturnal and is observed in a broad range of habitats, including forests, meadows, shores, reefs, marshes, grasslands, and swamps. This species is widespread in South East Asia, Australia and Oceania.

Photographed at the banks of Damuan river, Brunei Darussalam.

We would like to thank everyone for visiting IBER

We would like to thank everyone for visiting IBER booth during the UBD Open Day (9 - 10 February 2025) at the UBD Library.

The UBD Open Day, which showcased UBD’s programmes, admissions and scholarships, was held in conjunction with the UBD Discovery Week 2025 (9 - 15 February 2025).

In conjunction with the UBD Discovery Week 2025, our UBD Botanical Research Centre (UBD BRC) also offers a guided tour of UBD's botanic garden. Please check @ubd.botanicalgarden for more information.

Associate Professor Dr Volker Herzig from the Univ

Associate Professor Dr Volker Herzig from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) delivered an insightful talk at IBER on "Breakthroughs by Biobanking – Exciting Discoveries from Arthropod Venoms," highlighting his work on the world’s largest arthropod venom biobank.

With venoms collected from over 850 species of spiders, scorpions, insects, and centipedes, his research has led to the discovery of new therapeutic candidates for pain and epilepsy, bio-insecticides, and key insights into ion channel physiology. His work has been instrumental in understanding how venom-derived compounds can be used as selective pharmacological tools to address various medical and scientific challenges. His talk shed light on the potential of venom-derived compounds in biomedical applications, sparking discussions on future collaborations and innovations in the field.

AP Dr Herzig is currently in Brunei for a field course at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre with AP Dr Alison Shapcott, Professor Cathy Yule and a group of UniSC students. The field course is part of a long-running collaboration between IBER and UniSc, supported by the UBD’s Office of Assistant Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement) under the Global Discovery Programme.

We thank AP Dr Herzig for contributing to IBER Seminar Series!

#IBERBrunei #VenomResearch #IonChannelBiology #ArthropodVenoms #BiomedicalDiscovery #Pharmacology #ToxinScience #PainResearch #EcologicalBiochemistry #UniversityOfSunshineCoast #ScientificCollaboration #IBER #UBD #UBDSustainability

Dr Salwana Jaafar, Assistant Lecturer at IBER, and

Dr Salwana Jaafar, Assistant Lecturer at IBER, and Hazimah Haji Mohd. Din, IBER research assistant visited the Forest Research Centre (FRC) in Sandakan from 3–7 February 2025.

This visit provided an opportunity to discuss potential research collaborations with the Sabah Forestry Department while exploring the FRC’s extensive research facilities.

As part of the visit, Dr Salwana toured the Scientific Reference Collection, which includes the herbarium, xylarium, chemistry lab, phytochemistry lab, pathology lab, seed lab, and insect museum.

Hazimah, who is actively involved in herbarium and forest plots research at IBER, collaborated with FRC’s herbarium staff to identify plant voucher specimens collected by the IBER Forest Ecology Team.

Both of them also visited the Rainforest Discovery Centre, gaining further insights into Sabah’s rich biodiversity and ongoing conservation efforts.

The visit underscores the importance of fostering scientific partnerships in forestry and ecological research, paving the way for future collaborations.

We thank the Forest Research Centre for hosting our team!

#ForestResearch #ScientificCollaboration #BiodiversityConservation #EcologicalResearch #TropicalForests #IBER #UBD #UBDSustainability

Sysmia Shafrin, a Final Year Project student from

Sysmia Shafrin, a Final Year Project student from the UBD's Faculty of Science (FOS) recently carried out her research project on freshwater fishes at the UBD's Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC).

The student is co-supervised by Dr Rafhiah Kahar from IBER and Prof Takaomi Arai from FOS. Shifana, a volunteer also provided assistance with the fieldwork.

#UBDStudent #biodiversity #freshwaterfish #research #kbfsc

Today, IBER celebrated the retirement of Ms. Ramla

Today, IBER celebrated the retirement of Ms. Ramlah Anak Sapoh, one of our beloved colleagues at Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC). Ms. Ramlah has been with KBFSC from 1992 until 2025, dedicating an incredible 33 years of service. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering commitment and contributions throughout these years. As she embarks on this new chapter of life, we wish her continued good health, joy, and success. Thank you, Ms. Ramlah, for being such an amazing colleague! Your presence will truly be missed.

Today, we also celebrated the Lunar New Year especially for our Chinese colleagues in IBER.

🌿🌊 Brunei Darussalam Conference and Expediti

🌿🌊 Brunei Darussalam Conference and Expedition on Forest to Reef! 🌊🌿

IBER is proud to be selected as partner, representing UBD, for the Brunei Darussalam Conference and Expedition on Forest to Reef, in conjuction with Brunei MYCE 2025!

From towering forest canopies to thriving coral reefs, our tropical ecosystems are deeply interconnected—playing a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Join us as we explore groundbreaking solutions for protecting these vital habitats.

📅 Expedition: 19 - 25 May 2025
📅 Conference: 16 - 18 June 2025
📍 Co-organized by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, in partnership with Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

This conference will bring together experts, researchers, and policymakers to discuss how forests, coastal ecosystems, and blue carbon habitats work together to shape a sustainable future. Be part of the conversation on cutting-edge conservation strategies, nature-based climate solutions, and the link between biodiversity and economic resilience.

More details will be shared soon—stay tuned! 🌍💙

#ForestToReef #BruneiDarussalam #SustainableFuture #Conservation #BlueCarbon #ClimateSolutions #MYCE2025

Calling nature enthusiasts to sign up as a volunte

Calling nature enthusiasts to sign up as a volunteer today!

Sign up here:
https://forms.gle/HvGpBk5R6mWHLKot6

Volunteers will be given a certificate.

Details about the volunteering schedule, tasks and venue are available from the QR code/link.

Open to anyone over 18 years of age.

#ubd #ubdvolunteers #brunei #biodiversity

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