Dr. John W. Johnston

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. And adavncing geoscience education with experiential and online learning, physical and digital models, extended reality, classroom response systems, and field training of students and professionals.

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

Navigating through the Menu, investigating John's Home, Students, Classes and Research pages on UWScholar.
John is current in the... Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), in the Faculty of Sciences, at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
See John's UW-EES Profile OR John's LinkedIn Profile!

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.

Select Service

North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature (NASCN), Geological Association of Canada rep. (2017 to present). Also fomer Chair (2020 to 2021) and Vice Chair (2019-2020).
STEM Indigenization Community of Practice, UWaterloo Faculty of Science rep. (2019 to present).
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

Postdoctoral Fellow (2006) Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Ph.D. (2004) Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
M.Sc. (1999) Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
B.Sc. (1995) Physical Sciences (minor-Geology), College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Employment

Associate Professor, Teaching Stream (2019-present) Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, ON.
Continuing Lecturer (2019-2024) 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.