Carnegie Mellon University
July 21, 2014

News Brief: Pittsburgh is Hosting ASCE Shale Energy Engineering Conference

Contact: Tara Moore / 412-268-9673 / tararaemoore@cmu.edu

Jared CohonPITTSBURGH—The American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) first Shale Energy Engineering Conference is taking place from July 21 to July 23 in Pittsburgh's David Lawrence Convention Center. This national conference addresses the technical challenges, environmental issues and public policy surrounding hydraulic fracturing.

Jared Cohon (right), president emeritus of Carnegie Mellon University and a University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, is presenting the keynote talk "Working Together to Address the Water Impacts of Shale Gas Development."  

According to Conference Manager Elaine Watson, hundreds of industry professionals are attending the event to converse about the latest advances in shale energy in an objective atmosphere.

"One of ASCE's goals is to facilitate the advancement of technology to enhance quality, knowledge, competitiveness, sustainability and environmental stewardship," Watson said. "This is the first conference that ASCE is conducting on the topic of hydraulic fracturing and the goal is to present a balanced perspective for the attendees. Unlike other conferences on hydraulic fracturing that tend to be biased toward the oil industry or toward the environmental lobby, this conference offers an unbiased look at hydraulic fracturing from a civil engineering perspective. By providing a forum for all sides in the controversy to have their voice heard, we are listening to all sides without prejudice."

The conference features workshops, networking sessions and keynote presentations pertaining to one of the four program tracks — geological and geotechnical aspects of hydraulic fracturing, regulatory policy, infrastructure development and water resources management. Jeanne VanBriesen, professor of civil and environmental engineering, is chair of the water resources management track.

For more information, please visit: http://content.asce.org/conferences/shale2014/index.html


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Jared Cohon (pictured above), president emeritus of Carnegie Mellon University and a University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, is presenting the keynote talk "Working Together to Address the Water Impacts of Shale Gas Development."