Noël James is one of Canada's outstanding geologists. He is an expert on the origin of modern marine carbonate sediments and their ancient counterparts worldwide, rocks which contain most of the earth's fossil record, and much of the nation's hydrocarbon resources. He is credited with pioneering the use of research submersibles in reef studies, discovering how carbonates form in cold oceans, and deciphering their record in deep time. Professor of geology at Queen's university, he has written extensively on carbonate facies models and remains an admired scholar, mentor and teacher.