The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) is pleased to announce the publication of Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Southeast Asia.Edited by Deputy Director of IAS, Assistant Professor F. Merlin Franco, and part of Springer’s “Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions” series, this volume is a compendium that discusses the medicinal, cultural, and economic importance of major plant species of the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia.At 1137 pages, and with contributions from 37 individual authors, Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Southeast Asia offers the latest full-range research on important plants in Southeast Asia’s mountainous regions.The…

The Institute of Asian Studies (IAS) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is a research institute dedicated to producing and disseminating cutting-edge knowledge about the societies, economies, politics, cultures and histories of the Asian region. As a research institute, we are interested in candidates who are very productive in research and publish in top academic journals, who have a solid experience in international collaboration and who can contribute to the IAS “Asia in transition” Springer book series.Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) is the leading higher education institution in Brunei Darussalam. It partners with more than 100 world-leading universities and institutions spanning 6 continents…

An interview with Victor T. King, Professor of Borneo Studies at the Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, has recently been published in Southeast Asian Social Science Review. The interview is entitled, “Eminent Southeast Asianist and Specialist on Borneo: In Conversation with Professor Victor T. King.” Conducted by Senior Lecturer Wan Puspa Melati Wan Halim of Taylor’s University in Malaysia, the interview covers a broad range of topics relating to Professor King’s career in Borneo Studies and the field of Borneo Studies more generally, pertaining to its past, present, and future trajectories. Please find the introduction to the…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) is pleased to share a video of a webinar and book launch entitled: “New Frontiers in Asia-Pacific International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution: Webinar & Book Launch.”On 25 February 2021, a panel of experts discussed, in roundtable format, the current and potential repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, for FTAs and international investment in India, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia, and in so doing, drew upon their recently published volume, New Frontiers in Asia-Pacific International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (Kluwer 2021).The webinar was chaired by A/Professor Bruno Jetin and Dr Nobumichi…

In addition to conducting research, the staff members of the Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) also teach and supervise students in various faculties at the university. Associate Professor Paul J. Carnegie recently had the privilege of supervising two award-winning students.The two UBD students, Caroline Anne Yong Suk Zhen (above left) and Siu Tzyy Wei (above right), recently won a Special Recognition Award at the 2020 ASEAN-Korea Academic Essay Contest for their submission titled Of Digital Divides and Paradigm Shifts: A Letter to the Future.The contest was organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, Korea National Diplomatic…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) is pleased to host a webinar and book launch entitled: “New Frontiers in Asia-Pacific International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution: Webinar & Book Launch.”What are the current and potential repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, for FTAs and international investment in the Asia-Pacific region?A panel of experts will briefly discuss, in roundtable format, developments in India, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia, and in so doing, will draw on their recently published volume, New Frontiers in Asia-Pacific International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (Kluwer 2021).Dr Michael Hwang SC will add some concluding remarks…

Associate Professor Paul Carnegie of the Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) gave a virtual keynote address on “Countering Militant Extremism in Indonesia” for the online Islamic Culture Society (ICS) Conference, Universitas Mataram, Lombok, Indonesia, 29-30th September 2020.The theme of the conference was “Countering Radicalism and Terrorism in the Digital Era: Reshaping a Global Peace Community.Dr. Carnegie’s talk discussed Indonesia's experience with militant extremism and the conditioning circumstances associated with its reproduction in discourse and practice. It then went on to consider what lessons we can draw from Indonesia’s previous responses to militant extremism especially…

Dr. Merlin Franco, Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD), recently presented a paper for the International Online Conference on Ethnobiology (Conferência Internacional Online de Etnobiologia) organized by Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa (UFPB) in Brazil.Dr. Franco’s presentation was on “Exploring opportunities for collaboration between ethnobiologists from Latin America and Southeast Asia.”Given the similarities between the tropical rainforest ecosystems of Latin America and Southeast Asia, there is indeed much that scholars can collaborate on, and in his talk Dr. Franco highlighted ways to do this. The participants of…

Associate Professor Liam C. Kelley of the Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) presented a webinar on 20 September 2020 on “Việt Origins in Vietnamese and International Scholarship: Unequal Knowledge in the Global Age” as part of “The Vietnam Studies Research Snapshot (VSRS) Webinar Series.”The VSRS Webinar Series seeks “to foster a global network of Vietnam Studies scholars and students from within and outside Vietnam. . . to connect generations of Vietnam Studies researchers across thematic and disciplinary groups through intellectual debates, networking activities, and mutual support.”See below for the abstract of Dr. Kelley’s webinar.For…

Associate Professor Liam C. Kelley has been appointed co-editor of China and Asia: A Journal in Historical Studies (CAHS).Founded by Professor Han Xiaorong of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, CAHS is a peer-reviewed English-language forum for historical research on relations between China and other regions of Asia during both the pre-modern and modern periods. Its purpose is to promote communication and exchange among the global Asian studies community, especially among scholars based in Asian countries. CAHS publishes manuscripts focusing on the political, economic, social, and cultural interactions between China and other parts of Asia, as well as studies covering a…