05DISCOVER UBD JANUARY - MARCH 2015software is a collaborative scheduler interface that provides visitors at the Centre the choice of scheduling appliance usage. The system optimises diesel generator (DG) active hours using a DG Optimiser technique, to ensure minimum diesel consumption. The system could shave diesel consumption by 33.3%, and total cost by 20.1%, while making power available 24 hours a day.Studies in KBFSC are not just limited to Science as the rich tropical biodiversity has attracted sound artist and eco-acoustic composer, Prof David Monacchi from University of Macerata (Italy) and Professor of Human-Environment Modelling and Analysis, Bryan Pijanowski from Purdue University, USA, to study soundscapes at KBFSC. The researchers investigated the circadian rhythms of the tropical rainforest to understand how the sounds integrate to form unique soundscape and the impacts of sounds in different habitats.INItIatIVEs For wIDE INtErNatIoNaL NEtworKIn addition, UBD is working with the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and Centre for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) of the Smithsonian Institution USA to establish a 25-hectare forest dynamics plot network in lowland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest at KBFSC. Led by Dr Kamariah Abu Salim from UBD’s FOS and Dr Stuart Davies from CTFS-AA, the researchers measured and monitored over 160,000 trees / seedlings from more than 1,000 tree species for continuous census, aiming to understand the effects of climate change on the forests of Brunei.UBD enjoys a wide network for research with international institutions to undertake biodiversity studies in KBFSC. UBD has worked together with premier universities around the world including Princeton University (USA), New York Botanical Gardens, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vienna University (Austria), and James Cook University (Australia). The International Consortium of Universities for the Study of Biodiversity and the Environment (iCUBE) has also been established to promote collaborative research on issues and problems related to biodiversity and the environment. With UBD as its Secretariat, iCUBE network comprises internationally renowned universities such as King’s College London, National University of Singapore, Monash University (Australia), University of Bonn (Germany), University of Auckland (New Zealand), University of North Carolina (USA) and Korea University. The network capitalizes strategic & comparative advantages of UBD-KBFSC in the region for studies on Biodiversity, Energy, Climate Change and Forest Management.The establishment of KBFSC in 1990 has since helped to increase the international visibility of UBD as a world-class centre for tropical biodiversity research. Its strategic location and rich biodiversity has boosted UBD and KBFSC’s profile to be an internationally recognised facility for research and teaching in tropical rainforests, attracting renowned researchers from all over the world.A number of inventions have stemmed from fundamental studies on the adhesive toepads of torrent frogs found in KBFSC.Photo: UBD/AP Dr Ulmar Grafe
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