Thursday, 7th April 2016, Bandar Seri Begawan. Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah, the Royal Patron of the Princess Rashidah Young Nature Scientist Award (PRYNSA), consented to grace the prize presentation ceremony of the eighteenth Princess Rashidah Young Nature Scientist Award (PRYNSA 18) and give away prizes to the winners, and later on, view the mini exhibition put up by the students and the Forestry Department. The ceremony took place at one of the leading hotels in the capital. Her Royal Highness was accompanied by HRH Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Majeedah Nu'urul Bolkiah.
Her Royal Highness was greeted upon arrival by the Honourable Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, who is the Chairman of the Steering Committee of PRYNSA; Dr. Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, the Permanent Secretary; Awang Wardi Bin Haji Mohammad Ali , Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism); and Haji Kamaludin bin Haji Bungsu, Deputy Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd and Noralinda Haji Ibrahim, the acting Director of Forestry.
The Chairman of the Steering Committee of PRYNSA, the Honourable Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Apong, in his Welcoming Speech highlighted that "We have to revisit the policies in order to provide new opportunities for community livelihood, carbon trading, Payment for Ecosystem Services, biological prospecting, and ecological tourism development", "Biodiversity Research for National Youth Development", "The involvement of our youth in biodiversity researches is a key measure to prepare them in natural resource management and eventually become our competent leaders in shaping the future of the country's social well-being, environmental stability and economic growth".
For PRYNSA 18, the judging committee received 23 project proposals and as usual, only 5 finalists were chosen. The five PRYNSA-18 finalists with their respective project titles are:
- Menglait Secondary School, Gadong
"A Survey of common Bird Species/Families in the Muara District Using Various Bird Watching Techniques"
- Tanjong Maya Secondary School, Tutong
"A Study of Stingless Bees in Meliponiculture Area of Brunei Darussalam and the Physicochemical Composition of their Natural Honey"
- Chung Hwa Middle School, Bandar Seri Begawan
"The Ecological and Socio-Economic Importance of Water Lily (Genus: Nymphaea) in Brunei Fresh Water Ecosystem"
- St. John's School, Kuala Belait
"To Study the Effect of Economically Viable Species of Ferns based on the Distribution in the Rasau Area (Kuala Belait) and Ways of Conserving them for the Benefit of the Future Generation"
- Awang Semaun Secondary School, Sungai Kebun
"Biological Studies of Mud Crabs (Scylla serata) at Kampong Sungai Asam"
The team from Tanjung Maya Secondary School has been crowned as the champion of the 18th edition of PRYNSA. While the team from Chung Hwa Middle School and Awang Semaun Secondary School were named as the runner-up and second runner-up of the PRYNSA 18, respectively.
The winning team received prizes sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. in terms of a cash prize of $4,000, challenge trophy, individual trophies and certificates;
The runner-up received prizes sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. in terms of a cash prize of $3,000, individual trophies and certificates;
Second runner-up received prizes sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. in terms of a cash prize of $2,000, individual trophies and certificates; and
For the consolation prizes, the schools will each received prizes sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. in terms of a cash prize of $1,000, individual trophies and certificates.
Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd, has been the Ministry's co-sponsor for PRYNSA since it was first organized in 1997 with the aim of nurturing excellence among our younger generations. This prestigious competition is a yearly event and is open to all secondary schools throughout the country. Project proposals are submitted at the beginning of the year by the schools however only five schools are chosen as finalists. The finalists carry out their field work during the school's holiday. Each finalists is to submit a research report and undergoes an oral presentation are judged by the appointed panel of judges led by the Forestry Department, with the involvement of other experts from relevant institutional, government agencies and NGOs in the various.
For 18 consecutive years, Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd has been an important partner of Brunei Darussalam's efforts to promote environmental sustainability and education in Science and Technology. This effort is also in tandem with the national vision for 2035 which directly addresses the need for an educated, highly skilled and accomplished individual. According to Mr Andrew Faulkner Managing Director of BSP, this is one of the many BSP commitments towards the environment and the community and in a way supports the Government aspiration. This combined effort further reinforces and deepens BSP's commitment which mainly is demonstrated by incorporating environmental considerations into BSP's operations, advocating and supporting pro-environment community initiatives and partnering with the Government on strategic, national-level environmental initiatives.
ADDITIONAL FACTS ON PRYNSA ACHIEVEMENT
Objectives of PRYNSA:
- To foster the public awareness especially the students as to nurture a profound sense of love for nature and forests;
- To create a generation of young scientist who serve as the backbone of future professions, eager to serve the nation in the fields of nature and forest conservation;
- To further train the potential students in various disciplines related to the natural sciences;
- To provide the students an educational platform for the development of their future career in related fields; &
- To guide the students in the technical and managerial aspects of forestry and related fields.
Past winner of PRYNSA:
PRYNSA 1 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SULTAN HASSAN BANGAR
PRYNSA 2 – MAKTAB SAINS PADUKA SERI BEGAWAN SULTAN
PRYNSA 3 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SULTAN HASSAN BANGAR
PRYNSA 4 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAYYIDINA UMAR AL-KHATTAB
PRYNSA 5 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SULTAN HASSAN BANGAR
PRYNSA 6 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAYYIDINA ALI
PRYNSA 7 – PDS SCHOOL
PRYNSA 8 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAYYIDINA HASAN
PRYNSA 9 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAYYIDINA ALI
PRYNSA 10 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAYYIDINA HASAN
PRYNSA 11 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAYYIDINA UMAR AL-KHATTAB
PRYNSA 12 – SEKOLAH MENENGAH SULTAN MUHAMMAD JAMALUL ALAM
PRYNSA 13 – SERI MULIA SARJANA SECONDARY SCHOOL
PRYNSA 14 – SERI MULIA SARJANA SECONDARY SCHOOL
PRYNSA 15 – SEKOLAH TINGGI PEREMPUAN RAJA ISTERI
PRYNSA 16 – CHUNG HWA MIDDLE SCHOOL, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
PRYNSA 17 – CHUNG HWA MIDDLE SCHOOL, KUALA BELAIT
