The President’s Distinguished Lecture Series at Stevens Institute of Technology to Explore the Challenges and Opportunities of Unconventional Oil and Gas Production
Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) September 04, 2013 -- Dr. John Deutch, a renowned scientist and academic and government leader, will headline the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series at Stevens Institute of Technology on Oct. 30, 2013. His talk, entitled “The Challenges and Opportunities of Unconventional Oil and Gas Production,” will examine policy measures to minimize the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracture.
Deutch, institute professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been a member of the MIT faculty since 1970, and has served as provost, dean of science, and chairman of the department of chemistry. He has held significant federal government posts throughout his career, including director of the Central Intelligence Agency, deputy secretary of the Department of Defense, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology, director of energy research, acting assistant secretary for energy technology, and undersecretary in the Department of Energy. He has also served on many presidential commissions focused on nuclear safety, strategic forces, science and technology, intelligence, aviation safety, government secrecy and weapons of mass destruction.
“Dr. Deutch is one of the nation’s most illustrious science and technology leaders,” said Stevens President Nariman Farvardin. “His address promises to spur critical debate about the profound impact of technological advances in the energy sector, as well as how innovation in the methods we use to produce oil and gas may shape the environmental and economic future of the United States.”
In his one-hour lecture at Stevens, Deutch will scrutinize the recent surge in North American unconventional oil and gas reserves and production, which has reduced U.S. dependency on imported oil, lowered prices for the consumer and created jobs.
“While this is good news for the U.S. in geopolitical, economic and energy terms, hydraulic fracture – the modern technique to produce these unconventional resources – has generated significant public opposition given its adverse environmental impacts on air quality, water quality and seismicity,” said Deutch.
Deutch’s lecture will offer insights into the role of public regulatory agencies, industry, and university research and education in creating and implementing policy measures to minimize the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracture, enabling the growth of this industry.
The President’s Distinguished Lecture Series, launched by Dr. Farvardin in October 2012, offers unprecedented access to influential scientists, technologists and policymakers who are shaping 21st century society. It focuses on important topics in science and technology, the linkages between societal issues and advances in science and technology, and related policy issues. The series is free of charge and open to all Stevens students, faculty, alumni, staff and guests who register prior to the event.
Deutch’s lecture will take place in Stevens’ DeBaun Auditorium at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013. Immediately following, attendees are invited to attend a reception in Stevens’ Lawrence T. Babbio Center for Technology Management.
For more information about the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series or to register for the Oct. 30 event, please visit http://www.stevens.edu/lecture.
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University®, is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, NJ overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Founded in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark and legacy of Stevens’ education and research programs for more than 140 years. Within the university’s three schools and one college, more than 6,100 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate with more than 350 faculty members in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment to advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront global challenges. Stevens is home to three national research centers of excellence, as well as joint research programs focused on critical industries such as healthcare, energy, finance, defense and STEM education and coastal sustainability. The university is the fastest-rising college in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of the best national universities, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s elite for return on investment for students, career services programs, and mid-career salaries of alumni. Stevens is in the midst of a 10-year strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create., designed to further extend the Stevens legacy to create a forward-looking and far-reaching institution with global impact.
Danielle Wooddruffe, Stevens Institute of Technology, +1 (617) 785-0433, [email protected]
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