The loss of lives and devastation of homes seen in natural disasters stirred Ali to continue on to postgraduate studies after finishing his degree in Civil Engineering. Disasters such as the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, the 2005 New Orleans hurricane Katrina, and the 2003 earthquake in Ali's home country Iran, directed him toward studies in natural hazard and disaster management.

'New Zealand is at risk of many natural disasters such as earthquake, landslide, volcano and so on. Canterbury is one of the leaders in this area so I decided to come to UC to do my PhD.'

Ali's research activities involve working with software that simulates landslides triggered by an earthquake. He is looking to identify the geological and geometric characteristics of mountains which are at risk of co-seismic landslides. These will then be coded into a Geographic Information Systems based routine to search through a digital representation of a mountain. The aim of his research is to be able to predict the possible location and size of landslides.

'Doing research in this area will help to contribute toward reducing the effects of disasters, which leads to saving people's lives. That's my dream – if I save even one life,' Ali says. He plans to find work as an Emergency Manager or as a researcher in Geomechanics.

Ali recommends studying Hazard and Disaster Management at UC: 'If you would like to be in a friendly department, have supportive supervisors and make some really good friends in addition to gaining your qualification, then come and join us.'