Sue Brantley, Pennsylvania State University
Fracking, the hydraulic fracturing technology by which shale rocks are fractured by a pressurized liquid to release oil and natural gas, is controversial with proponents citing an increase in domestic oil production and lower gas prices, and opponents voicing environmental concerns and worries over small tremors that have sometimes followed fracking. Susan Brantley, a distinguished professor of geosciences at Pennsylvania State University, discussed fracking’s impact on water in this lecture.