Ivan Siahaan

“I initially wanted to study in New Zealand because of its beautiful scenery – I prefer tramping in New Zealand nature than sightseeing historical buildings in Europe.

“New Zealand is also famous for renewable energy production from geothermal power plants, and many geothermal experts in Indonesia graduated from the University of Auckland, so to study here is a privilege!

“I wanted to play a part in geothermal development from the point of view of an environmental engineer. I’ve realised that the exploration of minerals and energy production have significant deteriorative impacts, so my goal is to support these activities in more sustainable ways.

“My Master of Engineering Studies covered a wide range of environmental aspects, including surface water quality, urban stormwater management, water resource engineering, soil contamination and waste water treatment. I enjoy the variation and the broad experience I’m getting from it.

“I worked as a geothermal inspector focusing on environmental impact analyst in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in the Republic of Indonesia. I intend to use the knowledge gained here to contribute to making Indonesia healthier and more ecologically sustainable when I return to my job.

“What I love about studying at the University of Auckland is the access to the many academic resources and tools, and the supportive culture that makes you want to push yourself to do better. It’s great to meet so many international and Kiwi students. This allowed me to build relationships that will be important for my career in geothermal engineering.

“My advice to anybody considering this programme is to find your passion, and pursue that objective with the rich array of resources that the University of Auckland provides to you.”