BRC Conference Objectives

• To promote Borneo-related research in the social, biological and medical sciences;
• To enable research communities, government departments and relevant parties to keep abreast of ongoing research and its results;
• To draw attention to urgent research, findings and conclusions;
• To coordinate the flow of information from diverse sources pertaining to Borneo-related research;
• To disseminate rapidly initial findings and outcomes of research activity;
• To inform interested sections of the public about research in Borneo.

About the BRC Conference 2010 Logo

Body tattoos constitute an important aspect of indigenous tribal culture in Borneo: they are permanent symbols of achievement that mark a person's life journey. TheBungai Terung has been chosen as the centerpiece of the BRC Conference 2010 logo because its rosette design is unique to Borneo and of relevance to a wide range of indigenous tribes and communities across Borneo, and it reflects well the Conference's overall theme of "Continuity, Change and Preservation." Bungai Terung is an Iban term that literally refers to the flower of the brinjal or eggplant, although its connotative meaning and significance tend to vary regionally across Borneo. According to olden day traditions, the Bungai Terung was often the first motif to be tattooed (using needle, black soot and water) on a young man usually around the age of 12 to mark the beginning of his transition from childhood to adulthood. The spiral motif at the very centre of the Bungai Terung, known as thetali nyawa meaning "rope of life," symbolises longevity. In a lifetime, a man is bound to have more than one Bungai Terung on his body - commonly tattooed on the upper chest area close to the shoulders - to mark his tribal affiliations, travels and achievements. Frowned upon previously as a backward primitive art form, Borneo tribal tattoos have been enjoying a contemporary renaissance amongst younger generations most likely as a result of the gradual realisation that without continuity and preservation of ancient art forms, the essence of who one is as a Borneo person would be lost forever.