Lawrence Pedrigal enjoys the sense of accomplishment that comes with solving problems.

Hence it should come as no surprise that he is enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Mechanical) at Otago Polytechnic

“I really like knowing how and why things work – the science and logic behind everything around us.”

Lawrence, who describes himself as a “hands-on learner’, is completing the third year of the Engineering programme and has enjoyed its varied projects and experiments.

Born in the Philippines, Lawrence has also learnt the importance of communicating ideas and collaborating with others.

“For my second-year engineering project, I was partnered to an exchange student from Mexico.

“I had to step-up and lead which is a new experience for me since I have never been a leader. But it was very fulfilling to see how the project started from mere ideas and then slowly become a working reality.

“I had to initiate everything – the meetings, reports and communication.

“It was really difficult to communicate to my partner because we were both from different countries and had different languages. However, I learned that it is not difficult to lead a team if you really know what you want to achieve. And planning is very important.”

After graduating, Lawrence says he would like to get a job as a project manager or consultant.

“As an engineer my job is to solve problems.

“The biggest problem we are facing is climate change/global warming and the depletion of natural resources.

“Right now, I’m working on my final-year project, which is an aquaponics project.

“Aquaponics is a very sustainable way of farming because it uses a lot less energy and resources compared to traditional farming.

“I’d like to preserve the environment and increase awareness about it through any future jobs or projects. Creating sustainable solutions is number one.”