https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDmrxcww3XI
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York since 1977, visited Fieldston on October 22. Dr. Ingraffea spoke of fracking and environmental conservation, two of his major academic interests and former career paths – Dr. Ingraffea has worked as an engineer for the natural gas industry, has spoken out against hydraulic fracturing, and has worked with other engineers to develop a clean energy plan for New York State.
Dr. Ingraffea is eager to share his knowledge about fracking and environmental conservation to anyone who is willing to listen. When asked what sparked his interest in his field, Dr. Ingraffea cited three main sources of inspiration. He explained, “My original training in graduate school was in rock fracture mechanics with applications in energy development, so in the last 37 years I’ve been looking at oil and gas problems both underground and at the surface.” Dr. Ingraffea continued, “I’m an educator. In the same period of time I’ve been continuing to train myself as a teacher, so I enjoy the process of transferring data, knowledge, information, stimulating thought processes, most of that has been done in a formal way, in a classroom at Cornell.”
As a professor at a top-tier university, Dr. Ingraffea also feels he has a responsibility to “reach out to the general public and help with education in areas that are of general need.” Finally, Dr. Ingraffea said, “I’ve seen over the last five or seven years that the direction that the fossil fuel industry continues to take will not be good for my children and my grandchildren. So I speak to that as best as I can, not only to the public but to legislators, regulators, discipline makers, and the oil and gas industry.”
After his presentation, Dr. Ingraffea was asked what we, as students and as New Yorkers, could do in order to help the planet and reverse climate change. He said that one of the best things to do is to have conversations with your parents and your siblings so that the entire family is doing their part, including conservation in our homes and our vehicles. Dr. Ingraffea suggested we “generate [our] own renewable electricity and use less fossil fuel-based electricity and energy in general.” He also noted the importance of remaining educated about the subject of energy conservation. At the same time, Dr. Ingraffea reminds us that the issues of climate change and energy are “never going to end because these questions are going to be with us for the rest of our life.”
