The next installment of the University of North Texas faculty lecture series will focus on natural gas drilling, including the proximity of wells to schools and parks, the university has announced.
The UNT Speaks Out event is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 8 on the first floor of Willis Library, 1506 W. Highland St.
Scheduled panelists are Adam Briggle, professor of philosophy and religion studies; David Sterling, chairman of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the UNT Health Science Center's School of Public Health; Chetan Tiwari, professor of geography; and Nathaniel Smith, a senior geography major.
Smith and Tiwari are expected to present Smith's analysis of the distance between gas wells and schools and parks in North Texas and whether the distance differs according to the socioeconomics of nearby residents.
The event comes as Denton continues to rework its gas drilling regulations to address health and environmental concerns.
Briggle, who leads the Denton Stakeholder Drilling Advisory Group, is expected to discuss the "not in my backyard" attitude people sometimes display when new development is proposed close to their homes.
The university also announced other panel discussions scheduled for March 8 on "Women in the 21st Century" and April 24 on the 2012 presidential primaries.
