Science, creativity and discovery are back in the spotlight as the Seria Energy Lab (SEL) unveils its new look and a fresh mission to inspire the next generation.
Celebrating its reopening with the ‘Full STEAM Ahead’ event from 28 to 30 November, the centre invites the public to explore brand-new interactive exhibits, a freshwater aquarium and a hands-on Bio-Tinkering Lab, marking a new chapter for one of Brunei’s favourite learning destinations.
A notable upgrade for returning visitors is the strategic shift from marine to freshwater ecosystems, designed to enhance both sustainability and educational value.
The new centrepiece aquarium now showcases a vibrant freshwater ecosystem. At the same time, other tanks feature exotic species such as the Alligator Gar, a fish native to the Amazon River, offering visitors a diverse look into aquatic life.
“Whatever you see here is actually fresh water, especially the centrepiece. It portrays the life that you can see in Kampung Air,” said Head of SEL Dr Nur Karnina Karim.
She explained that the new system is more cost-effective and features improved life support, making it far easier to maintain than the previous saltwater setup.
A key addition is the new ‘Bio-Tinkering Lab’, a dedicated space for biology and chemistry experiments.
“This is newly added. We want to supplement the Eco-Lab… more hands-on, more lab-based for different ages,” she said.
Another point of pride for the SEL team is the ‘Explore Little Borneo’ exhibit, a collaboration with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Museum.
Dr Karnina highlighted this as a key milestone, as the exhibit was entirely designed and developed in-house by her local, youth-majority team.
“They managed to make something like that… they gamified it,” she said. “This is one of the milestones I feel that the science centre has achieved. We pushed boundaries and managed to come up with something as interactive as that.”
This drive for interactivity is central to SEL’s new direction, ensuring all exhibitions are aligned with the country’s needs, including the Ministry of Education’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The current transformation continues a remarkable journey that began over two decades ago when the facility first opened as the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC) in 2002. For 16 years, the OGDC served as the country’s only science centre, educating generations about the nation’s energy industry.
In 2018, the centre underwent its first major transformation, rebranding as Seria Energy Lab to reflect a broader focus on science, technology and innovation beyond the oil and gas sector.
“We still find people say OGDC. However, the generation of 2002 is getting more mature. We’re getting the new generation coming in, which they know us as SEL,” she acknowledged.
Looking ahead, Dr Karnina sees the centre continuing its important role as Brunei’s main science education space, being the only facility of its kind in the country. They are also keen on building partnerships to both sustain their educational programmes and deepen their community engagement through initiatives like ‘Revitalise Belait’.
The Full STEAM Ahead event runs until 30 November, featuring partners like Reef Cafe and robotics groups, with special bundle packages available for activities and hall entry.
Standard admission prices will resume after the event concludes, offering continued access to the newly transformed exhibits and learning spaces.
For more information about programmes and visiting hours, the public can visit the official website at www.seriaenergylab.com or follow their Instagram @seriaenergylab for the latest updates.
THE BRUNEIAN | BELAIT
