Tanjong Maya Secondary School emerged as the champion in the finals of the 18th Princess Rashidah Young Nature Scientist Award (PRYNSA) for its presentation on `Local stingless bees in meliponiculture areas of Brunei' and 'Physicochemical composition of natural honey'.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah, the Royal Patron of PRYNSA, graced the prize presentation ceremony yesterday at a hotel in Gadong and gave away prizes to the winners.

Later, Her Royal Highness viewed a mini-exhibition put up by students and the Forestry Department.

Also present was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah.

Chung Hwa Middle School was the runner-up in the competition with its project, 'The ecological and socio-economic importance of water lilies in Brunei's freshwater ecosystem. In third place was Awang Semaun Secondary School, Sungai Kebun, for its project, 'Biological studies of mud crabs at Kampong Sungai Asam'.

In this year's edition of PRYNSA, which centred on the theme, 'Biodiversity Research for National Youth Development', the judging committee received 23 project proposals and only five finalists went through to the final leg of the competition yesterday.

The winning team received a cash prize of $4,000 while the runner-up and second runner-up teams received cash prizes of $3,000 and $2,000 respectively, sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP).

Each of the winning teams also received a challenge trophy, individual trophies and certificates.

Consolation prizes of $1,000 were also handed over to St John's School for its 'Study of ferns in Rasau', and Menglait Secondary School for its 'Study of common bird species in the Brunei-Muara District using various bird-watching techniques'.

Rina Asyikin binti Rafpin, the vice-president of the winning team, told the Bulletin that they had been working on the project since February 2015 and that the idea had come from one of their teachers, who led them throughout the study.

Her team members, comprising of science stream students in Year 10 Science, gained more awareness during the project, particularly on aspects of biology and leadership skills, in a challenging and exciting study environment.

BSP has been a co-sponsor of PRYNSA since it was first organised in 1997 with the aim of nurturing excellence among younger generations.

The annual competition is open to all secondary schools across the country, and project proposals are submitted at the beginning of the year, with only five selected for the finals.

Each finalist is to submit a research report and give an oral presentation before a panel of judges led by the Forestry Department with the involvement of other experts from relevant institutional, government agencies and NGOs.

For 18 consecutive years, BSP has been an important partner of Brunei Darussalam's efforts to promote environmental sustainability and education in Science and Technology.

Andrew Faulkner, the Managing Director of BSP, said this is one of their many commitments towards the environment and the local community.

Earlier in the event, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, who is also the Chairman of the PRYNSA Steering Committee, gave a speech stating that the involvement of local youths in such studies is essential in preparing them for natural resource management, and eventually become competent leaders in shaping Brunei's future.

The minister also said that the local forestry sector is focusing on increasing forestry contributions to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), and emphasised the need to step up sustainable production of forest goods and services with an improvement in resources, understanding and management capacities of all forestry stakeholders.

"We have to revisit the policies in order to provide new opportunities for community livelihood, carbon trading, paying for ecosystem services, biological prospecting and ecological tourism development.

"It is imperative for us to optimise the utilisation of forest goods and services, considering the important role of the forest, as natural buffer to our country's aggressive industrial initiatives towards economic diversification," said the minisier.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]