Welcome to John Johnston's website @UWaterloo!

John is a competent, creative and innovative geoscientist and educator with more than two decades of experience in academia and industry integrating new approaches with new technologies addressing critical water- and climate-related issues challenging society.

Learn about John's experience and expertise by...

Expertise in Geoscience Education

  • Recruited to inspire the next generation. Training of highly qualified personnel including professional geoscientists and engineers (critical thinking, new ideas and technologies, application). Developing online and field courses. Applying blended and active Learning. Geoscience public outreach.

Expertise in Coastal Geoscience

  • Internationally recognized expertise. Identifying natural patterns and trends of sediment (coastal), water (lake level), ice (glacial isostatic adjustment) and climate (multi-decadal to millennial) to decouple climatic and human influence, place historical events into context, and help predict future scenarios.


Scientific Advisory Committees

  • Chair, North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature (NASCN) (2020 to 2021, also Vice Chair 2019-2020) and representative for the Geological Association of Canada on NASCN (2017 to 2023).
  • Technical Expert, 2021 Mayors Advisory Council on Coastal Resilience, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, Cities Initiative.
  • Technical Expert, Michigan Coastal Roundtable (since 2017).
  • Board Member, University of Waterloo Earth Science Museum (2019 to 2022).

Select Service

  • STEM Indigenization Community of Practice, UWaterloo Faculty of Science rep. (2019 to present).
  • Science Communications Roundtable, UWaterloo Dept. of Earth and Env. Sciences rep. (2020 to present).
  • Teaching Fellow and Online Teaching Task Force, UWaterloo Dept. of Earth and Env. Sciences (2020 to 2023).
  • Undergraduate Committee and Curriculum Committee, UWaterloo Dept. of Earth and Env. Sci. (2018 to present).
  • Volunteer - i.e. Waterloo-Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival.
  • Presentation judge (oral and poster) at multiple venues (local-regional-international).
  • Highschool visits - i.e. Experience Earth and Environmental Sciences Day.
  • Elementary school visits - i.e. Rocks and Minerals and World Water Day.
  • Engaging with anybody about Geoscience!

Education

Employment

  • Continuing Lecturer (2019-present) Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, ON.
  • Assistant Professor (2014-2019) Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, ON.
  • Assistant Professor (2013-2014) Dept. of Geography & Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, ON.
  • Earth Science Lecturer (2012-2013) Dept. Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, ON.
  • Geotechnical Sales and Support (2011-2012) Halltech Environmental, Guelph, ON.
  • Lecturer (2010-2011) Dept. of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga, ON.
  • Visiting Professor and Assistant Professor (2007-2008 and 2008-2010) Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, ON.
  • Lecturer and Research Assistant Professor (2004-2005 and 2006-2008) Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, ON.
  • Research Associate (1998-2004) Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
  • Hydrodynamic Geologist (1995) Chevron Canada Resources, Calgary, AB.
  • Logos for Chevron Canada, Indiana Geological Survey, Halltech, Wilfrid Laurier U, UWaterloo, U Toronto, Indiana U

Professional Affiliations