Meet Peter Hill

Meet Peter Hill

What is your job title?

Electronic engineer

What do you study and why is it important?

I design equipment for underwater and atmospheric research, Much of the work is technology dependant, and that’s where I come in

What will you be doing on the Graveyard voyage?

Testing, maintaining and operating the NIWA “DTIS” (that’s the Deep Towed Imaging System” or the camera system that you can see photos of in the online diary)

Where were you educated?

Wellington Polytechnic and Auckland University

How did you become interested in the ocean?

Spearfishing then SCUBA diving and underwater photography

Do you get seasick?

Rarely

What do you enjoy about your work?

The challenge of developing leading edge technology

What are some of the challenges that you face?

Keeping up with rapidly changing electronics and software

What have you learned/discovered? What do you hope to learn?

Using the DTIS I have seen that there are enormous changes in biota as you move down the seamount slopes

How do you spend your spare time?

Running, cycling, swimming, movies, theatre and reading