Alex Malahoff, born in Moscow, emigrated to New Zealand as a 10-year old with his mother and grandmother soon after the Second World War. He completed an MSc in geophysics at Victoria University, then worked for many years at the University of Hawaii, where he undertook airborne geophysical studies of the Hawaiian islands. He pioneered the use of submersibles to observe undersea volcanoes, including the study of the unique thermophyllic organisms that live in active vents. He returned to New Zealand in 2002 as chief executive of GNS Science.