Dana Johnston

Dana Johnston is an earth scientist whose career has focused on understanding volcanic and magmatic processes at the highest temperatures and pressures found within the Earth. He spent much of his professional life at the University of Oregon, where he served as a professor, department head and divisional dean before retiring in 2014.

During his academic career, Dana co-edited the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research and co-authored nearly 100 scientific publications. Much of his work involved laboratory simulations designed to replicate magmatic processes deep within the planet, contributing to a broader understanding of volcanic systems and Earth’s interior.

Dana’s interest in geology was shaped early by a childhood spent living on both coasts of the United States as well as in Lebanon, Puerto Rico and England. He has since traveled extensively, visiting volcanoes and geological features on every continent.

His association with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions began after retirement, when he joined a voyage to Antarctica as a guest. Subsequent travel to Svalbard, western Greenland and South Georgia island deepened his interest in high-latitude environments, leading him to join the natural history staff in 2018.

As a Naturalist, Dana brings a deep scientific perspective to polar regions, with particular interest in the geological processes that shape Earth’s highest latitudes in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.