GAC® National Medals & Awards
Logan Medal
Logan Medallist -
Dr. Noel James
CitationNoel James is a world leader in the examination, analysis, and interpretation of carbonate rocks and their diagenesis. His innate ability to bring together information and data assembled from detailed fieldwork and meticulous laboratory work has produced numerous papers that have been internationally acclaimed for their excellence. Time and space hold no boundaries for Noel as his curiosity has led him to the Precambrian strata of northwestern Canada to the Permian strata of Arctic Canada to the Cenozoic strata and modern sediments of Australia. By thoroughly integrating all of the information that he can glean from these rocks and sediments, Noel has revolutionized the manner in which we view carbonate rocks. This is best exemplified by his studies of cool-water carbonates that were largely ignored until Noel showed just how widespread and important they are. In so doing, he forced the rest of us to stop and reconsider how we should view carbonate rocks.
His record of training of graduate students is outstanding with many of his doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows now holding senior positions in various oil companies or teaching positions in many different universities. His boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm is shared willingly with his students and his colleagues. Noel P. James is a world-class scientist who has, throughout his career, made significant contributions to earth sciences in Canada. His excellence in research has been widely recognized by the awards from many different national and international organizations. It is therefore entirely appropriate that the Geological Association of Canada should now recognize his outstanding accomplishments in research, leadership, and mentoring by awarding him the Logan Medal.