Hydraulic fracturing is a technology used to crack subsurface shale and other porous formations to release oil and natural gas. With the aim of providing a venue for a civil discussion on the topic, the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver and the Buechner Institute for Governance sponsored a public forum. The event attracted 160 people representing governments, nonprofit and private organizations, academia and consulting firms, and other interests. Lasting for approximately 60 minutes, the first 30 minutes featured questions and answers between the moderators and the panelists. Questions posed to the panelists focused on the major issues or problems they see with respect to this topic and recommended solutions. During the last 30 minutes, the panelists answered questions from the audience.
