Jeffrey Johnson

Jeffrey is an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State University. His research interests are focused on volcano eruption dynamics and monitoring eruptions using a variety of novel technologies. His work brings him to erupting volcanoes all over the world, but his primary field sites are in Latin America, including Ecuador and Chile where he had the good fortune to serve as a Fulbright scholar. Through his teaching at Boise State University, Jeffrey is able to bring both his undergraduate and graduate students to the field with him, including to international field sites. Most recently (in January 2020) Jeffrey brought a group of students to his 2015 Fulbright home in Chile, where they were able to engage in research on active volcanoes. 

Jeffrey's experience in Chile was punctuated by a violent and unexpected eruption of Villarrica Volcano, which had serendipitously been the focus of his research activities. Together, with colleagues from his host institution and the Chilean monitoring authorities, they wrote two high-impact peer-reviewed scientific publications. Instrumentation Jeffrey had brought to Chile as part of his Fulbright proved particularly beneficial for monitoring and he is pleased that this technology now remains in Chile (at Villarrica and other volcanoes) as part of the country’s monitoring infrastructure. The work at Villarrica has since led to successful grant funding of National Science Foundation research proposals and has also led to student and staff exchanges to and from organizations in Chile. 

Ask Me About:

• Teaching in Spanish
• Working with foreign government scientists
• Deciding whether or not to evacuate during volcanic eruptions.
• Experiences about traveling abroad with small children abroad
• Tribulations and benefits of putting my children in public schools abroad.