Congress

First National Congress on Biology

The First National Congress on Biology was organized by PBBD on 18^th March, 2001. The theme of Congress was �Our Biodiversity�. The Guest of Honour was the UBD Vice-Chancellor, Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Seri Setia Professor Dr Haji Mahmud Saedon bin Awang Othman. However, Yang Mulia Dato Professor was away overseas on official duty and he sent his representative Yang Mulia Dr Haji Kassim bin Haji Daud, Acting Vice Chancellor. In his speech, he emphasized the need to preserve biodiversity. The Guest of Honour officiated the Congress, Society�s website, and presented prizes to winners of logo and essay competitions. Miss Lim Ee Tyng won the logo competition; the winner was presented with certificate and cash prize of $200, generously donated by Tuan Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Mohiddin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Special Mention Award was given to Awang Haji Mohammad bin Haji Ibrahim, for his extraordinary effort in submitting 8 logos.

There was no winners in essay competition, however, 2 consolation prizes were awarded to Miss Marilyn Wong and Mr. Shafiq bin Rahman. Both were students of St.Andrew�s School. Both received books on biodiversity, generously donated by Tuan Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Mohiddin and Dr Haji Kassim bin Haji Daud.

The scientific session began with a keynote lecture by Associate Professor Dr Peter Ng from Department of Biological Sciences/Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. His talk was on � How good is biodiversity research in SEA? A case study with aquatic animals.� There were other papers presented during the second and third plenary sessions and they were as follows:

� Forests of Brunei Darussalam by Dr Idris bin Md Said (Forestry Department);

� Sustainable harvesting of honey from wild giant honeybees by Dr Haji bin Kassim
Haji Daud (UBD);

� Management and conservation of marine turtles in Brunei Darussalam by Sabri bin
Haji Md Taha (Fisheries Department);

� Freshwater fishes of Tasek Merimbun by Dr Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman

� Mammals of Brunei Darussalam by Dr Joseph K Charles;

� Diversity of Bactrocera species in Sungai Burong by Dr T.H.Chua.

The three sessions were chaired by Dr David S Edwards (Dean of Science, UBD cum President, Brunei Nature Society), Dy Hajah Normah binti Pehin Dato Haji Jamil (Assistant Director, Agriculture Department) and Dk Hajah Siti Fatimah binti Pg Haji Petra (Education Officer, Ministry of Education).

Over 100 participants attended the Congress. The fee ($10-15 for students and $20 for others) covered refreshments, and programme book. The participants were also given name tags and certificate of attendance.

The Congress closed with the announcement of new Council Members for 2001-2003 and they are as follows:

President: Dr Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman;

Secretary: Dk Hajah Siti Fatimah binti Pg Haji Petra;

Treasurer: Awg Noraizamley bin Awg Damit;

Ordinary Council Members:

Awg Makarimi bin Haji Md Kassim

Awg Haji Eddy Masirwan bin Haji Dolah

Dyg Hadzilahwatie binti Haji Abd Hamid

Dyg Lim Chien Lee

Dyg Nuraireen binti Tuneh

Dyg Noelda Iryani binti Haji Tarip

PBBD thanked all the sponsors: Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Royal Brunei Airlines, SDS Systems Sdn.Bhd., Siti Mas Saloon, Riverview Hotel, Sabli Food Industries, Tuan Haji Abd. Rahman bin Haji Mohiddin and Dr Haji Kassim bin Haji Daud, for their support and trust eventhough PBBD is barely a year old.

PBBD is also grateful to the following individuals: Hajah Samsian binti Sion and Cikgu Haji Bujang bin Masu�ut.

PBBD hopes to organize its Second National Congress on Biology in year 2003, insya�Allah.

Updated by [email protected] on 03 April, 2001 Copyright � 2001 WebMaster Cosmic76