The thrill of solving problems that matter in the real world is what James enjoys most about his subject. While he was at high school, his love of physics and mathematics, together with his desire to do something useful in his career, initially led him to consider an engineering degree, but he wasn't sure which discipline to specialise in, so decided on an honours degree in Applied Mathematics instead.

'The field of mathematics has so many applications that are not advertised nearly as well as they should be!' he says. 'Probably the most satisfying aspect of my degree is that the research in advanced medical image reconstruction techniques I completed over the last two summers is being put to use... I enjoy solving problems that require multiple skills and lots of hard work, and these come up often in applied mathematics.'

In addition to his own studies, James works as a tutor with high school students, and with undergraduates in UC's Department of Mathematics and Statistics. He says, 'the atmosphere and work environment of the Department has really encouraged my love and understanding of mathematics… I found the level of student support here very useful during my first few years, and have enjoyed being able to contribute to that level of student support during the last few years.'

He adds: 'It is also the small things about the University of Canterbury, such as the friendly café staff and the fantastic campus grounds that make it more than just a place of study or work.'

Outside university, James is interested in sports of any kind, 'and anything else that pushes me mentally and physically, such as outdoor pursuits, rock climbing, and squash.' He is also in the Air Training Corps where he teaches first aid, bushcraft, aviation studies and firearms training; and he organises events for his church youth group.

Having developed a wide range of skills through his study and other activities, James is now mapping out his longer-term career plans. 'I want to continue my studies overseas, either at Cambridge or one of the US graduate schools, and complete my master's and PhD. I then want to return to New Zealand and put my skills to good use working as a consultant for engineering or working at a tertiary institution, researching and teaching.'

James is enthusiastic about encouraging others to study Applied Mathematics, saying, 'all you need is a passion for solving problems and the motivation to work hard. It is amazing what you can accomplish, and if you never take the leap then you will never know for yourself!'