Fracking is a step in the production of gas and oil by the high pressure fragmentation of shale using water, sand, and chemicals. Using fracking to produce shale oil and shale gas has the potential to make the United States largely independent of foreign sources of natural gas and significantly less dependent on foreign sources of oil. The major exploitation of shale oil and gas will depend on dealing with environmental concerns surrounding potential ground water contamination and water depletion that result from the fracking process.

The speaker for this event is Gerald D. Holder, Ph.D. Holder is the U.S. Steel dean of engineering and a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.