Bio Template – June 2010
NAME: Paul A. Johnston
Degrees: Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
Courses / Main areas of instruction at MRU: Geology 1103 (Historical
Geology); Geology 2107 (Paleontology); Geology 2155 (Geological
History of Life)
Position: Associate Professor
Office: B170
Office Hours: TBA
Phone: 403 440 6174
Fax: 403 440 6333
E-mail: pajohnston@mtroyal.ca
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Main areas of scholarly interest and/or expertise: Form, function and evolution of fossil and extant
marine invertebrates. Using fossil invertebrates to solve geologic problems and to understand
ancient depositional environments.
Current research interests / Current Work: The evolution of bivalve mollusks (clams, oysters, and
scallops). Animal communities associated with fluids discharged from the sea floor at ancient
hydrothermal vents and seeps. The geologic setting of the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, a
UNESCO World Heritage site in Yoho National Park.
Education:
1986: Doctor of Philosophy, Geology, Australian National University* (see awards).
1980: Master of Science, Geology, University of Alberta.
1977: Bachelor of Sciences with first class honours in Zoology/Geology, University of
Alberta.
Instructor Profile: Dr. Johnston holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Alberta and
a Ph.D. from the Australian National University and is currently the editor of Palaeontographica
Canadiana, Canada’s national monograph series on paleontological research. He is an
internationally recognized expert on the evolution of bivalve mollusks (clams, oysters, and
scallops) and on animal communities associated with fluids discharged from the sea floor at
ancient hydrothermal vents and seeps. He and his research team recently advanced a new
hypothesis that Canada’s famous half-billion year old Burgess Shale fossil site represents an
ancient seafloor hydrothermal seep community. His research has taken him to diverse regions of
Bio Template – June 2010
the planet including remote areas of the Rocky Mountains, Arctic Canada, Patagonia, the Gobi
Desert, Australia, and the Philippines.
Community Service/Research Interests:
Editor, Palaeontographica Canadiana, a national paleontologic monograph series published by
the Joint Committee of the Geological Association of Canada and the Canadian Society of
Petroleum Geologists.