The William Pitt Debating Union hosted a public debate (4/6/11) addressing Pittsburgh’s role in the Marcellus Shale drilling boom on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The moderator of the debate is Dr. Gordon Mitchell of Pitt Department of Communication
Expert Panelist: Professor John Stolz (Duquesne University) and Professor Radisav Vidic (University of Pittsburgh)
Proposition: Kathryn Klaber, Marcellus Shale Coalition and Jayson Myers, Pitt Student Debater
Opposition: Doug Shields, Pittsburgh City Council and Jeff Kurr, Pitt Student Debater
Panel of Student Questioners: Amber Kelsie, Paras Minhas and Chris Solis
Debate Frame
In November 2010, Pittsburgh became the first city in Pennsylvania to ban natural gas drilling when city council members voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that establishes an environmental “Bill of Rights,” including a citizen’s right to water and the right of ecosystems to exist and flourish within the city.
Arguing for the drilling ban should be lifted will be Kathryn Zuberbuhler Klaber. She is President and Executive Director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a non-profit group representing gas companies working to tap energy sources in the geological formation that has prompted some to call Pennsylvania the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas.” Teaming with Klaber on the affirmative side will be Jayson Myers, a University of Pittsburgh undergraduate debater. Pittsburgh City Council member Doug Shields, key sponsor of the drilling ban ordinance, will join with undergraduate student debater Jeff Kurr on the opposition side to argue against permitting drilling within City limits.
A panel of scientists will work with other student debaters to shed light on technical aspects of the debate:
• Professor John Stolz, Director, Center for Environmental Research and Education; Professor Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University
• Professor Radisav Vidic, William Kepler Whiteford Professor and Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Pittsburgh
View the debate at http://mediasite.cidde.pitt.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=6a23dc4322014eddba3842...