Regarded as Canada's leading authority on microwave heating for metallurgical applications, Professor Pickles has been a pioneer in the development of microwaves for processing ores, precious metal residues, and waste materials. Other major contributions include the use of extended arc plasma reactors for the treatment of electric furnace dusts and generation of ferro-alloys. A staunch participant for over three decades in the committee affairs of professional organizations, Professor Pickles has presented short courses for industry, mentored close to seventy researchers and published over 170 papers, coedited five conference volumes and coauthored a textbook on Chemical Metallurgy. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and has won national awards from this organization.