Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) held its first-ever STEAM Festival, a four-day celebration of innovation and interdisciplinary learning that took place from 10th to 13th June 2025. The UBD STEAM Festival 2025 connected the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) with the broader community through a dynamic lineup of activities, exhibitions, and educational experiences.
The festival was open to the public from 10th and 11th June, with morning (9am to 12pm) and afternoon (2pm to 4pm) sessions offering guided campus tours and hands-on experiences across UBD’s faculties and institutes. Visitors explored eco-friendly vehicle innovations at the Faculty of Integrated Technologies (FIT), live medical demonstrations at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), and student-led entrepreneurship showcases at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE). The Faculty of Science (FOS) featured engaging experiments in physics and chemistry, Herbarium tour, and interactive math sessions, while the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER) offered Botanical Garden tours highlighting native flora and conservation efforts. All tours were free, with on-site registration beginning at 8:30am.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Minister of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha on 12th June at Chancellor Hall, UBD, welcoming officials from the Ministry of Education (MOE), industry partners, and university leadership.
Following the officiating of the STEAM Festival 2025, Chancellor Hall’s Main Hall hosted a series of keynote presentations. Featured speakers included Associate Professor Dr Malai Haniti Sheikh Abdul Hamid from (FOS) on ‘Chemistry as a Climate Warrior’, Associate Professor Dr Hajah Sallimah Haji Mohd Salleh from Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE) on ‘Beyond the Curriculum: Influencing Innovative Learners through STEAM’, and Dr Muhammad Hazim Haji Abdul Ghani (IHS) on ‘Know Your Shots: Truths & Myths About Vaccines.’
Interactive science shows took place in the afternoons of 12th and 13th June (2pm to 4pm) at the Chancellor Hall Lecture Theatre, featuring live demonstrations and experiments designed to make science fun and accessible. “Our aim is to make science entertaining and accessible to all ages,” said Dr Afroz Shah from FOS, who led one of the featured sessions.
From 9am to 4pm on 12th and 13th June, the Main Hall hosted over a dozen interactive booths. Highlights included STEAM projects from SHBIE, cultural exhibits from the Academy of Brunei Studies (APB), medical displays from PAPRSB IHS, as well as cybersecurity and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) experiences from the School of Digital Science (SDS). Visitors also explored innovations in diabetes care, Bruneian entrepreneurship, and herbal research.
A variety of workshops were held in the basement level of Chancellor Hall. Topics included science communication, Artificial Intelligence (AI) visual literacy, robot programming and first aid. Notable sessions include Professor Dr Stephen Ashworth from University of East Anglia, United Kingdom (UK) on ‘Communicating Science to the Public’ and STEMmatics Enterprise’s hands-on workshop on problem-based learning using pulley systems.
On 13th June, the STEAM Games offered interactive learning through Ethnoscience and Ethnomathematics games. Additionally, short lectures and video screenings ran throughout 12th to 13th June, covering topics such as statistics in everyday life, Earth sciences, Brunei’s ancient life, and innovative agricultural research.
Local vendors were also available at the Chancellor Hall, which include Ardshin Express, Sound Sip Café, Matchaa Waffle, and Jreeze Coffee.
As part of the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) and UBD’s 40th anniversary, the UBD STEAM Festival 2025 was co-hosted by UBD and MOE. It was organised by SHBIE, with support from various UBD faculties and institutes, as well as government ministries including the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA). Industry partners included Seria Energy Lab (SEL), with major sponsorship from Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), Cuckoo, and Aewon Brunei.
UBD anticipated thousands of visitors over the four-day event. “By bringing together research labs, student innovators and community partners, we aim to inspire Bruneians of all ages to embrace STEAM disciplines,” said Dr Hajah Sallimah.
All events on 10th to 11th June and afternoon sessions on 12th to 13th June were open to the public and free of charge. For more information and updates regarding events on campus, follow UBD’s official social media channels @ubdbuzz.