How chemistry can help us understand fracking's risks and benefits

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- Associate chemistry professor Helen Boylan shared her research on the controversial process surrounding shale gas drilling in her presentation "Shale Happens: An Investigation of the Environmental Chemistry of Hydraulic Fracturing." 

She works with Westminster students to understand and monitor the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) industry through chemistry and collaboration.

Boylan offered her presentation during the Faires Faculty Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 26, in Mueller Theater at Westminster College.   She has been researching with undergraduate students on environmental analysis of fracking during the past year. Her presentation goes beyond the pros and cons of shale gas extraction. 

Boylan frames her work in the context of undergraduate research on the topic and uncovering the unknowns of this controversial topic.  She also shared experimental results on frack water and future plans involving air quality monitoring.

Listen to the podcast of the presentation.  You can also download it from Westminster College on iTunes.

Dr. Boylan is a Westminster graduate who joined the faculty in 2001.  She earned a Ph.D. from Duquesne University.


ABOUT FAIRES FACULTY FORUM

The Faculty Forum was established in 1990 by Dr. Barbara Faires, Westminster professor of mathematics emerita, during her term as dean of the college and vice president for academic affairs.  It is a unique venue that celebrates faculty teaching, research and passion for scholarship while also serving as platform for peer review and reflection.

Faculty members from all disciplines volunteer to present lectures on their current research, artistic productions, and scholarship of teaching and learning.  Each forum presents new ideas with innovative lecture techniques.