John Johnston

John Johnston aims to identify natural patterns and trends involving sediment, lake water levels, and climate to help predict future scenarios for some of the largest freshwater resources on Earth.

Professor Johnston is currently a leader in two large, multidisciplinary research groups focused on the Mackenzie and Laurentian Great Lakes. He also teaches a number of undergraduate geology courses, including the 3rd-year fieldcamp.

• Sedimentology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, hydrogeology, geochronology, limnology, geodesy, geophysics, climatology, geochemistry, soils, coring & sampling in remote locations.

• Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and Mackenzie watersheds (sediment, water, ice, and climate).

• Geoscience education, experiential and online learning, physical and digital models, extended reality, field training of students and professionals.

• Threats to Aquatic Ecosystems and their Interaction

• Conservation

• Geohazards: Risks and Prevention

• Climate Change and Geosciences

• Increasingly Complex Water Challenges

• Protection of Surface and Groundwater Resources

• 2004, Doctorate Geological Sciences, Indiana University, United States

• 1999, Master of Science Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada

• 1995, Bachelor of Science (BSc) Physical Sciences (minor in geology), University of Guelph, Canada

• 1994 Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Undergraduate Award

• 1994 Geological Association of Canada Undergraduate Award

• 1995 University of Guelph geology representative for Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Student-Industry Field Trip

• 2002 IU Bloomington Professional Council and the Office of the Chancellor Award

• 2003 Award for Academic Achievement, Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University.

• 2003 Distinguished Service Award 2003 – In recognition of valuable contributions to the new Geological Society of America Limnogeology Division. First web manager for this new division.

• 2003 International Association for Great Lakes Research Scholarship

• 2003 Indiana University Department of Geological Sciences Estwing Award

• 2004 Award for Academic Achievement, Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University.

• 2015 Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing - Journal of Paleolimnology, in recognition of the timely, thoughtful, and high-quality reviews submitted to ensure the journal’s continued growth and success.

• Geological Association of Canada

• Geological Society of America

• International Association for Great Lakes Research

• American Geophysical Union

• Great Lakes Research Consortium

• Member, The Water Institute

• EARTH 121 - Introductory Earth Sciences
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
• EARTH 235 - Stratigraphic Approaches to Understanding Earth's History
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
• EARTH 390 - Methods in Geological Mapping
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
• EARTH 491 - Special Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Taught in 2021

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.