Merge pull request #93 from RConsortium/92-new-brunei-blog-post

brunei rugs blog post

posts/free-boba-tea-and-technical-r-topics-lure-young-learners-to-new-brunei-r-user-group/index.qmd

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+---
+title: "Free Boba Tea and Technical R Topics Lure Young Learners to New Brunei R User Group"
+description: "The R community in Brunei may be small, but it is growing thanks to the efforts of the Brunei R User Group."
+author: "R Consortium"
+image: "smiles.jpg"
+date: "09/20/2024"
+---
+
+[Haziq Jamil](https://www.linkedin.com/in/haziqjamil/), the founder and organizer of 
+the [Brunei R User Group](https://www.meetup.com/bruneir/), recently spoke with the 
+R Consortium. Haziq established the first R User Group in Brunei to promote R programming 
+and create collaborative learning environments. Under his leadership, the group hosts 
+monthly meetups and events to advance R skills across various sectors in Brunei. 
+Through these efforts, Haziq aims to build a supportive and inclusive R community, 
+encouraging both personal growth and data-driven innovation in the region.
+
+![](haziq-jamil.jpg)
+
+**Please share your background and involvement with the RUGS group.**
+
+My name is Haziq Jamil, and I am an Assistant Professor in Statistics at Universiti 
+Brunei Darussalam, the leading higher education institution in Brunei. I have used 
+R for almost ten years during my studies and on many personal and professional projects. 
+
+The Brunei R User Group was founded in February 2024, and I serve as its chair and 
+founder. My role is to lead the group’s administration, oversee its overall direction 
+and strategy, and ensure that its initiatives align with its mission of promoting R 
+programming and fostering a supportive learning environment, focusing on community 
+engagement and collaboration.
+
+![](smiles.jpg)
+
+**Can you share what the R community is like in Brunei? **
+
+![](brunei-rugs-logo.png){width=50%}
+
+The R community in Brunei may be small, but it is growing thanks to the efforts of 
+the Brunei R User Group. The group organizes monthly meetups and events to promote 
+learning and development in R programming and advance its use across various fields 
+in Brunei. These gatherings provide opportunities to expand the community by 
+enhancing participants’ skills, offering a platform for networking with like-minded 
+individuals, and engaging in practical applications such as data analysis, visualization, 
+and spatial data techniques. By creating an inclusive R community, the group aims to 
+support individual growth in Brunei and foster collaboration on data-driven R projects. 
+Whether for students, professionals, or hobbyists, the group strives to provide a 
+supportive space for learning, sharing insights, and driving innovation within the 
+local R community.
+
+**You hosted a Meetup, “[R>aya with R](https://www.meetup.com/bruneir/events/300000854/?eventOrigin=group_events_list),” 
+in April. Can you share more about the topic? Why this topic? **
+
+![](brunei-raya-meetup.jpg)
+
+The R User Group’s “[R>aya with R](https://bruneir.github.io/posts/bru-2/)” Meetup in 
+Brunei was a lively event that combined Hari Raya Aidilfitri’s (Eid-ul-Fitr) festive 
+spirit with the exploration of R programming. To engage younger audiences, we offered 
+free boba tea as a beverage during the session. The event featured informative sessions 
+led by expert community members, each focusing on advanced topics relevant to different fields.
+
+![](boba.jpg)
+
+One of the critical presentations was on “Survival Analysis” 
+by [Dr. Elvynna Leong](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elvynna-leong-84b449190/?originalSubdomain=bn). She 
+explained statistical techniques to predict the time until an event of interest, such as 
+guests’ arrival at a Hari Raya open house. This topic is directly related to fields 
+that depend on time-to-event data, such as healthcare or actuarial science.
+
+![](presentation.jpg)
+
+One of the highlights was [Wafid Sophian](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wafid-sophian-6b8073141/?originalSubdomain=bn)’s session 
+on “Simulation Methods for Economic Analysis.” In this presentation, Wafid demonstrated how R can be 
+used to simulate and analyze complex economic scenarios. The topic focused on modeling 
+outcomes and making data-driven predictions. It was chosen due to its significance in 
+finance and business analytics.
+
+[Dr. Eden Ng](https://www.linkedin.com/in/eden-ng-737504177/) presented on 
+“Mathematical Modeling of Evolutionary Biology,” showcasing how R can be used to 
+model biological evolutionary processes. This session visualized the intersection 
+of R programming and biology, thus emphasizing R’s utility in research areas such 
+as genetics and evolutionary studies.
+
+The event covered three topics in the areas of mathematics, economics, and biology. 
+It was open to all individuals interested in learning about the capabilities and 
+usage of the R language, regardless of whether they were beginners or experts.
+
+**Do you recommend any techniques for planning for or during the event? (Github, 
+Zoom, other.) Can these techniques be used to make your group more inclusive to 
+people who cannot attend physical events in the future? **
+
+For planning and executing events like the 
+“[Analysing Spatial Data with R](https://www.meetup.com/bruneir/events/299246264/?eventOrigin=group_events_list)” event, 
+the R>aya Meetup, and the “[Introduction to R](https://www.meetup.com/bruneir/events/301146476/?eventOrigin=group_events_list)” sessions, 
+we utilized [Github](https://github.com/bruneir). To host R scripts, datasets, and 
+event materials. Our participants can access and review the code before and after 
+the event. It also provides a platform for issue tracking and version control 
+to facilitate feedback and group collaboration. It helps those who can’t attend 
+in person to engage and contribute to our [Quarto Blog](https://bruneir.github.io/). 
+To publish event summaries, key takeaways, and additional resources on the official 
+Brunei R User Group blog. We hope to provide a centralized location for information 
+and help remote participants catch up. 
+
+**Please share any additional details you would like to include in the blog. **
+
+As the first R user group in Brunei, we are excited to promote the adoption and 
+growth of R across various industries. Our mission goes beyond just hosting 
+events—we are dedicated to creating and nurturing an inclusive R community 
+and showcasing the power of R in numerous fields.
+
+## How do I Join?
+
+R Consortium’s R User Group and Small Conference Support Program (RUGS) provides 
+grants to help R groups organize, share information, and support each other 
+worldwide. We have given grants over the past four years, encompassing over 
+68,000 members in 33 countries. We would like to include you! Cash grants 
+and meetup.com accounts are awarded based on the intended use of the funds 
+and the amount of money available to distribute.
+
+[Learn more](../../all-projects/rugsprogram.html)
+