A recommendation by a friend to study at UC brought Gregor all the way from Slovenia. 'I liked it the moment I saw it and never looked anywhere else. That was a bit of a "leap-of-faith" that worked out really well,' he says.

It was Gregor's love for the outdoors that motivated him to specialise in volcanology, which involves the mapping, geochemistry and structural analysis of geological formations. His study included travelling around New Zealand visiting 'amazing locations'. Being out and about also allowed him the opportunity to indulge in some of his non-study interests such as photography, sport climbing, surfing, hiking and biking.

Gregor says he enjoyed studying at UC because he got to meet people from around the world, and, when he was employed as an Assistant in UC's Department of Geological Sciences, he was also able to work alongside some of them. He enjoys interacting 'with people of different expertises, and learning and applying that knowledge when on my own in the field'.

Gregor's drive comes from 'following my heart to do what I enjoy doing the most, trying to understand my surroundings and contributing to their understanding'. During his time at UC he discovered a love of research – he enjoys 'finding and working on new things'.

Having completed his honours degree, and keen to travel again, Gregor's next move is to McGill University in Montreal to start work on his PhD. In the interim he is working as a volunteer teacher in Dubai – a job he loves and which 'keeps me sharp' - before he takes a break to do rock climbing in Europe.

To those considering studying Geology he advises: 'If you enjoy working on new things and being out and about, and if you have a passion about the subject, you will not be disappointed'.