 I'm Jim Proser, I'm from the University of Aberdeen, where I'm a soil microbial ecologist and I've also been FEMS Publications Manager for the last six years, and for my hero, I have chosen Professor Michael Bazin. Mike Bazin was a lecturer during my undergraduate degree in microbiology at Queen Elizabeth College, and he instilled in me the importance of mathematical modelling and theoretical quantitative approaches to microbial ecology. This has influenced my own research to this day, and I think it is essential to adopt those sorts of approaches to make real advances in our understanding of microbial ecology and other branches of microbiology. Unfortunately, Mike Bazin passed away some years ago, but his influence on me and I'm sure many other of the people he taught is still felt today and is important for the advances in microbial ecology in the future.