Solve It @ Community

As part of UBD Sustainability Living Lab – Phase 2 (Community Living Lab), we are pleased to open the call for applications to UBD researchers, including both staff and students as well as external partners, to collaboratively address real and pressing community challenges.

Building on our work in Phase 1, this phase extends beyond campus into the wider community. Over the past year, we engaged the public through community surveys and our partner networks to better understand on-the-ground issues faced by communities in Brunei Darussalam. These efforts have generated valuable insights into lived challenges that require practical, research-driven, and locally grounded solutions.

We are pleased to share an initial list of community-identified issues to support this call. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated on an ongoing basis as new inputs are received from communities and partners.

The problem statements serve as a starting point for interdisciplinary teams to co-create solutions with communities – translating research, innovation, and knowledge into meaningful impact.

Reducing Landfill Dependence in Brunei Darussalam

Problem Statement: Brunei Darussalam currently relies largely on landfilling as the main waste disposal method, which places growing pressure on landfill capacity and can increase environmental and cost risks over time. Opportunities remain to strengthen waste segregation, recycling systems, composting practices, waste-stream data, and sustained community participation – areas that also connect to environmental hygiene and wildlife disturbance concerns. A Living Lab approach would enable coordinated, community-driven pilots for scalable waste reduction, segregation, and resource recovery solutions in partnership with communities and institutions.

Strengthening Community Enterprise and Financial Resilience

Problem Statement: Community-based enterprises, including the 1 Kampong 1 Product initiative, continue to face challenges in product consistency, branding, market access, digital integration, and long-term viability. There are also opportunities to strengthen financial literacy, improve coordination across support schemes, and build more systematic programme evaluation to enhance business resilience and household income security. These gaps can affect youth participation and the growth of more sustainable local enterprises. A Living Lab approach would support would support the co-development of market-ready, financially sustainable solutions that integrate business innovation, coordinated support systems, and strengthened financial capability.

Improving Agricultural Productivity and Food Security

Problem Statement: Agricultural productivity in Brunei Darussalam is shaped by constraints such as soil conditions, resource-use efficiency, climate variability, and uneven uptake of sustainable farming practices. These factors can influence farmer livelihoods, youth engagement, and national food security outcomes. Expanding the use of climate data and decision-support tools offer further scope to strengthen adaptive capacity. A community-based Living Lab can help test locally appropriate, climate-resilient approaches that enhance productivity while reinforcing environmental sustainability.

Public Health, Wellbeing and Social Resilience

Problem Statement: Communities are navigating interconnected challenges related to healthy ageing, youth mental wellbeing, caregiver strain, financial vulnerability among older adults, and climate-related health risks. There is an opportunity to better connect informal support networks with formal systems, and to more intentionally address disparities linked to gender and access. Without preventive, evidence-based approaches, longer-term health and social burdens may increase. A Living Lab approach would enable integrated, community-centred solutions that strengthen physical, mental, and financial resilience across the life course.

Sustainable Coexistence, Cultural and Community Spaces

Problem Statement:Urbanisation and shifting lifestyles are reshaping relationships between people, wildlife and cultural heritage. Key challenges include stray animal management, sustainable human–environment interaction, underutilised cultural spaces, and the risk of reduced intergenerational transmission of indigenous languages and knowledge. Strengthening how local wisdom is integrated into sustainability initiatives could support more culturally-grounded development. A Living Lab approach can support inclusive, community-led solutions that reinforce social cohesion, cultural continuity, and sustainable coexistence.

Climate Resilience and Infrastructure

Problem Statement: Increasing exposure to extreme rainfall, coupled flood and landslide hazards, and ageing infrastructure are creating growing risks to safety, mobility, and economic stability. There is scope to strengthen the integration of geospatial risk assessment, climate modelling, and resilient design practices to support more effective planning and response. Without locally validated, data-informed solutions, vulnerability may increase over time. A Living Lab approach would support piloting adaptive infrastructure strategies, integrated risk assessment, and innovative technologies to strengthen long-term community resilience.