Alan Johnson

Educational Background

Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 1988

B.S. Chemistry
Colorado State University 1980

Courses Taught

ENR 1020 - Introduction to Environmental and Natural Resources II
ENR 3120 - Environmental Risks and Society
ENR 4290/6290 - Environmental Law and Policy
ENR 4500/6500 - Conservation Issues
FNR 4990 - Senior Seminar
ETOX 8410 - Ecological Risk Assessment

Profile

Dr. Johnson's research has included ecological modeling, risk assessment, and science-based environmental policy and decision-making. Currently, he is focused on the application of environmental policy to the space environment, and associated conceptual issues in astrobiology and space exploration. His teaching focuses on introductory and policy-related courses for undergraduates, and occasional graduate-level courses.

Dr. Johnson serves as Associate Department Chair with an emphasis on academic affairs. He works to improve the student experience and ensure academic excellence. He also chairs the Departmental Curriculum Committee, serves on the Clemson University Sustainability Commission, and committees overseeing the Sustainability and the Astrobiology minors.

Given the time devoted to his teaching and administrative roles, Dr. Johnson is not currently available to serve as the primary advisor for graduate students, although he is available to serve as a committee member.

Research Interests

My research interests have encompassed ecological modeling, environmental toxicology and risk assessment, landscape ecology, and environmental policy. Currently, I am particularly focused on the intersection of environmental policy and space policy. Specific topics include:
* conceptual issues in astrobiology
* human artifacts in the night sky
* space colonization and closed ecological life support systems
* wilderness preservation and conservation planning beyond planet Earth

Publications

Johnson A.R. 2022. The art of asking good questions. Clemson (SC): Clemson Cooperative Extension, Land-Grant Press by Clemson Extension; 2022 Mar. LGP 1140. https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/the-art-of-asking-good-questions/
Johnson, A.R. 2020. Extending the concept of wilderness beyond planet Earth. Ethics & the Environment 25(1): 69-83.
Johnson, A.R. 2019. Biodiversity requirements for self-sustaining space colonies. Futures 110: 24-27, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2019.02.017
Mhatre, S.S., A. Johnson and M. Wolf. 2015. Presence of Alasmidonta varicosa (Brook Floater) nursery in Turkey Creek, Savannah River basin: New information on brook floater in the Slate belt region of South Carolina, USA. Ellipsaria (newsletter of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society), Dec 2015, pp. 17-18.
Allen, C.R., D.R. Uden, A.R. Johnson and D. Angeler. 2015. Spatial modeling approaches for understanding and predicting the impacts of invasive alien species on native species and ecosystems. Pages 162-170 in Venette, R.C. (ed.), Pest Risk Modelling and Mapping for Invasive Alien Species. CABI, Oxfordshire, UK.
Johnson, A.R. 2012. Avoiding environmental catastrophes: varieties of principled precaution. Ecology and Society 17(3): 9. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-04827-170309
Johnson, A.R. and S.J. Turner. 2010. Relevance of spatial and temporal scales to ecological risk assessment. In: L.A. Kapustka and W.G. Landis (eds.), Environmental Risk Assessment and Management from a Landscape Perspective. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, USA. pp.55-74.

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