The conference will be an opportunity for interested scientists to share their ideas and establish long-term collaborations for study and research on Historic Hydraulic Structures.

UNESCO: Water Portal | Water Events Worldwide

This view is echoed by Robert Jackson, professor of environmental sciences at Duke University in the US, who has published research on ground water contamination through hydraulic fracturing.

BBC: Fracking 'not significant' cause of large earthquakes

The research outfit reports that thanks to the innovation of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling on private and state lands, the U.S. in fiscal 2012 produced 6.2 million barrels of oil daily, up from 5.1 million barrels as recently as fiscal 2007.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Drill, Barack, Drill

The Research Council study was not tasked with assessing water quality surrounding hydraulic fracturing.

CNN: Debate over fracking, quakes gets louder

The Department of Energy has taken credit for laying the groundwork for the current natural gas boom, citing research and development dating back to the 1970s that led to today's hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, techniques of extracting gas from shale.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The joint Green Party and Alliance motion was opened by Anna Lo who said the four licences for exploration for hydraulic fracturing, known as "fracking", had been granted despite a "severe deficiency of research".

BBC: Hydraulic fracturing