05DISCOVER UBDingredients are incorporated in herbal medicines. With the current research being conducted, and in collaboration with other governmental agencies, the centre will also help to contribute to the economy and serve as a centre for herbal research and commercialisation.Vice Chancellor Datin Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Aziz highlighted that Brunei Darussalam is blessed with highly biodiverse tropical communities. “This exceptional diversity, supported by the good level of conservation of Brunei’s forested habitats, facilitates research work on ethnobotany, both in-situ and ex-situ plant conservation methods, sustainable utilisation and also their responses to climate change,” she said.She also pointed out that some of the plants mentioned in the Qur’an and hadith, such as camphor and agarwood or gaharu are also found in Brunei: both of which are highly valued commodities.THIS EXCEPTIONAL DIVERSITY, SUPPORTED BY THE GOOD LEVEL OF CONSERVATION OF BRUNEI’S FORESTED HABITATS, FACILITATES RESEARCH WORK ON ETHNOBOTANYThe Simpur Cafe utilises herbs and plants grown at the Botanical Research Centre in its healthy food and drinks. Photo: Azhar IsmatUBD has identified herbal research and complementary medicine as a key focus for research and development and that the symposium will be the initial platform for a larger and more diverse group of stakeholders interested in the uses of plants in the Qur’an and hadith to also share their latest findings from different scientific and Islamic perspectives to a wider audience.Following the officiation of the symposium by His Majesty, State Mufti Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Dr Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz Juned delivered the keynote presentation at the Chancellor Hall. The symposium continued later in the afternoon with plenary sessions held at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), UBD.The symposium featured international speakers from Malaysia, Canada, India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. One of the keynote speakers at the symposium, Professor Emma Clark, is a world renowned garden designer specialising in Islamic gardens and gardens of other sacred traditions. She is attached to the The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London where she focuses on teaching the universal and timeless principles of sacred and traditional art. She has published two books on Islamic gardens: “The Art of the Islamic Garden”, and a monograph, “Underneath Which Rivers Flow: The Symbolism of the Islamic Garden” as well as many articles on Islamic art and architecture, gardens and the garden carpet. Her talk focused on “The Islamic Garden as Sacred Art” and “Opportunity for Bridge-building Between Cultures”.Another notable keynote speaker was Professor Zhari Ismail from Universiti Sains Malaysia, who specialises in Pharmaceuticals. Professor Zhari Ismail was pivotal in the successful formulation of an anti-obesity, weight loss supplement which uses the Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila) herb. This prototype, named Labeesity, even won a Gold award at the Malaysia Technology Expo. His talk at this Ethnobotany conference focused on herbal standardisation for pre-clinical and clinical studies.Well-received by participants from various ministries, organisations and educational institutes within the country, the symposium saw useful discussions where speakers and participants were able to exchange ideas and experiences related to the theme of the symposium as well as to establish professional connections. It also provided a platform for international experts, UBD academics and graduate students to share knowledge as well as latest trends and findings of ethnobotanical discipline relevant to the Qur’an and hadith.
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