A distinguished geoscientist, he is the project leader of the Lithoprobe investigation, which has put Canada at the forefront of geological research. He helped coordinate the efforts of over 700 scientists, and business and government officials to understand the composition and evolution of Canada's landmass. The educational and economic benefits of the initiative are far-reaching, from assisting in mining explorations to training young scientists for research. It is recognized as one of the most successful earth science ventures ever undertaken in Canada.