​His Royal Highness Prince Doctor Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, as Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam, UBD officially launched the 'Pesta Konvo' or Convocation Festival 2018 yesterday morning. The festival is held in conjunction with UBD's 30th Convocation that will take place on the 29th of this month.

Upon arrival, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was greeted by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; Datin Seri Paduka Doctor Dayang Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Acting Minister of Education; and Datin Doctor Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, Vice Chancellor of UBD.

The ceremony commenced with the reading of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat led by Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.

His Royal Highness then launched the 'Pesta Konvo' UBD 2018. His Royal Highness signed the plaque, and then proceeded to plant the 'Resak Kerangas' tree. This species can be found in the country, and is at risk of extinction due to logging and agricultural activities.

The Botanical Research Centre has identified over 200 herbs and 100 tree species that grows at an area of 5 kilometres at the tropical peat forest, also known as Kerangas. Without affecting the exposed part of the forest, the centre's establishment aims to increase conservation efforts and promote sustainable practise of utilising tropical wood and herb species that are usually used as complimentary medicine. In addition to research and education, the Botanical Research Centre also carry out translational research to gain beneficial findings for the public, herbal practitioners and students. In fact, UBD welcomes herbal practitioners to verify the plant identities, and determine the best mixtures to be combined with plants that will be used to make medicines.

The 'Pesta Konvo' held at UBD's Botanical Research Centre aims to showcase the student's creative works as well as alumni and entrepreneurial projects. This includes the 'Water Wheel' that channels oxygen into the fish pond, as well as plants and bacteria using organic wastes.

Meanwhile, the 'Coat-Guard CG003' project by Awang Haji Mohammad Redza bin Haji Hussin, Masters Student in Energy Studies, highlighted products that have anti-fungal and anti-bacteria properties to reduce the cost of maintenance works for buildings and signboards. This technology has the potential to be produced in other countries that shares the same climate as Brunei Darussalam. In the country, such a technology has been utilised by Smart Coating Technologies Sendirian Berhad.

Also highlighted during the festival were food products produced from honey. Currently, UBD's Faculty of Science is researching on the nutritional and anti-oxidant content that can be found in honey.

His Royal Highness then visited the Botanical Research Centre's Green House. This facility has over 200 species of herbs, mostly originated from the Southeast Asian region. The Green House is divided into three areas that have different light intensity to suit the needs of each plants.

With the theme 'Innovation, Leadership and Mastery,' the exhibition highlights the importance of innovation for the society's benefit.

Also highlighted at the exhibition was the research of Dayang May Goh Poh Yik, a Doctorate student in Biotechnology, which revolves around the specialty of 'Pawas' leaves as a herb containing anti-oxidants and anti-bacteria properties.

A research on the diverse species of seaweed in the country and its potential to be marketed was among those being showcased. The project aims to identify and collect data on the different species of seaweed that can be found in the country, and then evaluate the potential of these seaweeds for marketing purposes.

As part of the engineering and community collaborative initiative, the 'One Arm Wheelchair' project was created by UBD's Faculty of Integrated Technologies with the cooperation of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam. The wheelchair has been modified with the aim to assist hemiplegic patient's mobility.

This year, UBD aspires to explore more research and studies that lean more towards Environment and Biodiversity, Sustainable Development and Green Energy. The 'Pesta Konvo' is open to the public until this Saturday at UBD's Botanical Research Centre.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by Brudirect.com

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