University gives ‘frackademics’ the boot

Given our geographic situation as well as our extensive faculty expertise in issues related to energy, water, and the environment, the University at Buffalo is positioned to play a leading research role in these areas. Understanding and addressing these issues effectively therefore requires a program of sufficient scale to encompass the scope and complexities of this topic … The university upholds academic freedom as a core principle of our institutional mission. With that being said, academic freedom carries with it inherent responsibilities. The Shale Resources and Society Institute’s May 15, 2012, report, “Environmental Impacts during Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling: Causes, Impacts, and Remedies,” led to allegations questioning whether historical financial interests influenced the authors’ conclusions. The fundamental source of controversy revolves around clarity and substantiation of conclusions … Because of these collective concerns, I have decided to close the Shale Resources and Society Institute.

We’re excited that the University of Buffalo — through the oversight of the SUNY Board of Trustees — has decided that the Shale Institute should be shut down. This is a victory for real science over junk science peddled by the gas industry.