Associate Professor Alison Shapcott and Professor Catherine Yule will take thirteen Bachelor of Environmental Studies to the heart of the Bornean jungle in January 2023, to map the unique flora and fauna of this endangered, biodiverse environment. Building on the skills they have learnt throughout their UniSC degree, students will participate in mapping of the Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei and the Gunung Mulu National park in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The students will be undertaking their environmental research side-by-side with researchers from Universiti Brunei Darussalam at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre in Ulu Temburong National Park and at the Research Station in Gunung Mulu, Malaysia. Students will also have the opportunity to experience the local culture, staying in a traditional indigenous Iban long house in the Teraja region of Brunei and learning how the Iban and other indigenous groups live sustainably with the rainforest.

The three week program is New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant supported, allowing participants to receive a grant of up to $3000 to offset the cost associated with studying overseas. Professor Catherine Yule has been successful in gaining a 2023 New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant which will support an additional 25 students on future study tours.

I am very grateful to have had opportunity to undertake field work in Borneo as part of the NCP grant program. Borneo is incredibly biodiverse and the schedule arranged by UniSC allowed us to see and experience it to its fullest in the available time. Through this experience I was also able to develop meaningful connections with staff from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, which enriched my experience and understanding of the country, culture and its ecological values. This experience opened my mind to opportunities and inspired me to move forward in my environmental career. I look forward to returning to Borneo one day.

UniSC graduate and "Mapping Flora and Fauna of Borneo" participant Kylie Gordon

Want to find out more? Contact Global@usc.edu.au