Events by this organizer

Brunei Darussalam is recognised for its intact and pristine tropical forests that maintain their ecological integrity and high biodiversity value. Even though the country’s total land area is relatively smaller in size compared to other neighboring countries, much of its forests are still unexplored and untouched by humans. This makes Brunei Darussalam an ideal venue for scientific expeditions where new scientific findings are yet to be discovered. Apart from the potential of new discoveries, the pristineness of Brunei Darussalam’s forest makes it even more perfect and viable place for ecological studies in order to increase our understanding of how forest functions. Starting from 30 May 2024 to 8 June 2024 (10 days), Brunei Darussalam will be the venue for a multidisciplinary Scientific Expedition with the theme of “Exploring Brunei Darussalam’s Biodiversity”.

The expedition will be open to all local and international researchers. The expedition will be held back to back with the Brunei Darussalam Conference on Biodiversity with the theme of “Biodiversity: Nature’s Blueprint for Sustainability” on the 11 – 13 June 2024. Participants of the scientific expedition will have the opportunity to be present at the conference as well as to share their preliminary findings on one of the sessions set aside for the expedition.

Brunei Darussalam is recognised for its intact and pristine tropical forests that maintain their ecological integrity and high biodiversity value. Even though the country’s total land area is relatively smaller in size compared to other neighboring countries, much of its forests are still unexplored and untouched by humans. This makes Brunei Darussalam an ideal venue for scientific expeditions where new scientific findings are yet to be discovered. Apart from the potential of new discoveries, the pristineness of Brunei Darussalam’s forest makes it even more perfect and viable place for ecological studies in order to increase our understanding of how forest functions. Starting from 30 May 2024 to 8 June 2024 (10 days), Brunei Darussalam will be the venue for a multidisciplinary Scientific Expedition with the theme of “Exploring Brunei Darussalam’s Biodiversity”.

The expedition will be open to all local and international researchers. The expedition will be held back to back with the Brunei Darussalam Conference on Biodiversity with the theme of “Biodiversity: Nature’s Blueprint for Sustainability” on the 11 – 13 June 2024. Participants of the scientific expedition will have the opportunity to be present at the conference as well as to share their preliminary findings on one of the sessions set aside for the expedition.

This programme will foster environmental stewardship, aiming to create a positive influence through integrating innovative technologies with conservation efforts. The main theme objectives, include: 1) Educate and Inspire students to adopt Sustainable Practices for long-term environmental well-being. 2) Implement digital tools for effective and data-driven Environmental Management. 3) Fostering a sense of Environmental Responsibility. 4) Contribute to the global effort to Combat Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss.

“Biodiversity: Nature’s Blueprint for Sustainability” aims to convene government representatives, private sector leaders, experts from non-governmental organizations, and researchers by facilitating the exchange of knowledge and the showcasing the nation’s rich biodiversity through a scientific expedition as well as through learning from experts on international best practices in addressing critical strategies for utilizing biodiversity as a foundation for sustainable development. This also includes exploring the potential of utilizing biodiversity in the context of eco-tourism and current market initiatives such as carbon market. To further enrich the conference with a real local case study and lessons learned, a scientific expedition at the Batu Apoi Forest Reserve in the Temburong District will be conducted prior to the conference. The findings from this expedition will be showcased at the conference and will serve as an opportunity to position Brunei Darussalam prominently within the global discourse on forest biodiversity research, highlighting its potential to establish itself as a leading hub for tropical biodiversity research.

The ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum is an integral part of the ASEAN University Network’s (AUN) youth-focused initiatives. Its main purpose is to encapsulate the essence of ASEAN’s cultural heritage, its influences, and its evolution in order to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the concept of ‘ASEANness.’ This forum serves as a vibrant platform for celebrating the diversity and commonalities within the ASEAN+3 region through meaningful dialogues centered around artistic and cultural experiences. The inaugural edition of the ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum was held in 2003, hosted by De La Salle University in the Philippines. Since then, it has been organized annually, with AUN member universities taking turns to serve as hosts. In 2007, in alignment with the ASEAN+3 Higher Education Policy Dialogue, it was decided to establish the ASEAN+3 University Network and enhance student mobility by expanding various ongoing activities, including the AUN Educational Forum, the Young Speakers Contest, and the ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum. As a result, the ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum successfully evolved into the ASEAN+3 Youth Cultural Forum. The transformation commenced in the “11th ASEAN and 1st ASEAN+3 Youth Cultural Forum” held at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, which marked the first occasion when delegates from China, Japan, and Korea were invited to participate.

24 June: Opening Ceremony at ICC or Bridex.

Subsequent events (25&26 June) will be at University Brunei Darussalam

27 June: Closing Ceremony at International Convention Centre or Bridex

The forum offers a platform for advancing whole-of-nation efforts to accelerate progress in SDG12 goals, complementing the realization of the Wawasan Brunei 2035. It gathers government officials, private sectors, academic experts, youth, and NGOs with interests and successful experiences to address and discuss challenges and successes related to SDG12 policies, initiatives, and programs.