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Nature science: HRH
Princess Hjh
Rashidah Sa'adatul
Bolkiah (L)
presenting a mock
cheque to a member
of Sayyidina Umar
Al-Khattab Secondary
School, winner of
Prynsa. Pictures:
BT/Zamri Zainal
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Friday, April 17,
2009
SAYYIDINA Umar Al-Khattab
Secondary School in
Lumapas won top
prize of the 11th
Princess Rashidah
Young Nature
Scientist Award (Prynsa)
yesterday at Rizqun
International Hotel.
Titled "An
assessment of stream
qualities in Mukim
Lumapas using
macro-invertebrates
as bio-indicators",
the project
undertaken by the
secondary school
explored the
reduction in
qualities of some of
the more accessible
forest streams
caused by recent
demographic growths,
as well as increased
development in terms
of infrastructure.
Our project aims to
increase public
awareness and acts
as a stepping stone
to promote
conservation
efforts, said the
team.
The team also
expressed their
hopes of promoting
such areas for
ecotourism, as it
can be beneficial to
the economy of
Brunei especially
for residents of
Mukim Lumapas."
Team captain Nurul
Syahiirah Hj Abd
Rahman said that she
had, at first,
expected the Prynsa
experience to be
quite easy.
"It turned out to be
quite challenging,
both mentally and
physically,
especially when
going up and down
the hills," she
joked.
When asked what
represented the
largest challenge
for the team, Nurul
Syahiirah replied
that writing the
reports were the
toughest because
they had never done
it before.
"We were also very
nervous when
presenting but we
kept looking on the
positive side," she
said.
Other members of the
team included
Vice-captain Siti
Noorazreen Aliddin,
Siti Amirah Hj
Yussof, Nurshahida
Atiqah Hj Mustapha,
Muhd Fariz Tajuddin,
Nurul Husniyah Ahmad
Tajudin, Rahimah
Nurulafidah Safli
and Zulhamizan Jamil.
The champions were
awarded $3,000 in
addition to a
laptop, individual
and challenge
trophies as well as
a HSBC start-up
saving account for
each student.
Pehin Datu Seri
Maharaja Secondary
School bagged the
second prize, while
Menglait Secondary
School took the
third spot. Chung
Ching Middle School
and Seri Mulia
Sarjana School
secured the fourth
and fifth positions
respectively.
Organised annually
by the Forestry
Department at the
Ministry of Industry
and Primary
Resources, Prynsa
was held to foster
awareness on the
importance of
conserving and
protecting forests
among the younger
generation.
It also serves as a
platform in
generating future
researchers and
scientists in the
field of natural
sciences, as well as
inculculating and
generating
creativity,
confidence, skills,
knowledge and
teamwork among the
students.
The five finalists
for next year's
Prynsa was also
announced. The list
included defending
champions Sayyidina
Umar Al-Khattab
Secondary School,
PGGMB (Brunei Malay
Teachers
Association)
Secondary School,
Sultan Mohammad
Jamalul Alam
Secondary School,
Raja Isteri Pengiran
Anak Damit Female
Secondary Arabic
Religious School and
Sultan Hassan Bangar
Secondary School.
Presenting the
awards to the
winners was Patron
of Prynsa Her Royal
Highness Paduka Seri
Pengiran Anak Puteri
Hjh Rashidah
Sa'adatul Bolkiah.
Also present at the
event were Her Royal
Highness Princess
Hjh Majeedah Nuurul
Bulqiah, Minister
and Deputy Minister
of Industry and
Primary Resources
Pehin Orang Kaya
Seri Utama Dato Seri
Setia Hj Yahya
Begawan Mudim Dato
Paduka Hj Bakar and
Dato Paduka Hj
Hamdillah Hj Abd
Wahab respectively.
.
-- Courtesy of
The Brunei Times |
