For 15 enthusiastic participants, a unique opportunity awaited them as they embarked on a 12-day tropical rainforest field course programme, where they delved deep into the heart of the Ulu Temburong rainforest to conduct research projects and engage in a range of activities designed to enhance their understanding of this captivating ecosystem.
The Tropical Research Experience (TREx) programme is an annual flagship programme under the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). This year, the programme took place from 26th June to 7th July 2023 with the aim of providing research experience in biodiversity and an understanding of the ecology of tropical rainforests and aquatic ecosystems. This is in line with IBER’s mission which is to promote biodiversity research, education, and conservation as well as to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Incorporating a citizen scientist approach, the TREx 2023 programme participants consists of both local and international participants coming from a diverse background of biologists, chemists, engineering, medicine as well as sociology, anthropology and arts.
The programme commenced with virtual sessions where participants were introduced to the rich biodiversity and research activities from key research scientists that are actively engaging in tropical ecology field research. Through virtual lectures and interactive discussions in the first week, the participants were exposed to biodiversity research, conservation and the different approaches to designing research projects in a tropical rainforest.
The second week of the TREx programme involved the participants setting out to the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) in Ulu Temburong National Park (UTNP) to conduct biodiversity-themed research projects. These research projects are the core activity of TREx which contributes to the participants understanding of UTNPs rich biodiversity. The TREx participants were guided by experienced facilitators and local experts. Some of the projects that took place involved studies into the ecology of plants, birds and freshwater fishes. The TREx activities included a guided day-time and nocturnal forest walk where the participants had a chance to witness the intricate web of life firsthand in UTNP’s rainforest and appreciate the importance of conserving this valuable ecosystem. The guided walks allowed participants to identify different tree species, observe interesting plants, and listen to the sound of the forest. The nocturnal walk also proved to be a captivating experience, as the forest came alive with a symphony of sounds with encounters of fascinating faunas. In the evenings, IBER and UBD-based researchers gave live lectures on a range of topics such as mammals of Borneo, Bioinspiration, and Rhizanthes and Fish ecology research at KBFSC. The lectures shared first-hand information on some of the research activities that are currently being conducted in IBER and UBD.
The programme culminated in a closing ceremony where participants presented their research findings which gave the opportunity to further their discussions on biodiversity research and conservation efforts that can be undertaken to preserve the rainforest.
TREx 2023 proved to be an unforgettable journey for the participants. It allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the rich biodiversity of Brunei’s rainforest, while inspiring them to become advocated for conservation. Through their firsthand experiences, guided walks and dedicated projects, they developed a profound connection to these ecosystems and a determination to protect them.