John Deutch, Ph.D., Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will deliver a lecture at West Virginia University on “The Future of Natural Gas,” Friday, March 11, at 2:30 p.m. The lecture will be held at the National Research Center for Coal and Energy, Assembly Room 101 A/B. It is free and open to the public

Deutch will discuss the dramatic increase in estimates of economical sources of unconventional natural gas in North America and elsewhere. While this shift in energy-related estimates is a boon for consumers, environmentalists and governments alike, the extent of its benefits will depend on how rapidly the economic and political systems adapt to change.

Deutch has been a member of the MIT faculty since 1970, and has served as chairman of the Department of Chemistry, Dean of Science and Provost. He has served in significant government and academic posts throughout his career, including serving as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from May 1995 through 1996, and as Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1994-1995.

He served in a number of positions for the U.S. Department of Energy: as Director of Energy Research, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Technology, and Undersecretary of the Department. In addition Deutch has served on many commissions during several presidential administrations. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council (2008) and the Defense Science Board (2010). Deutch was a member of the study group on two recent MIT reports, “The Future of Natural Gas: An Interdisciplinary MIT Study,” and “The Future of Coal: Options for a Carbon-Constrained World.”

The lecture is sponsored by the WVU Department of Chemical Engineering, the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and NRCCE.

-WVU-

3/4/11

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CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon
304-293-4086
Mary.Dillon@mail.wvu.edu