Novim, a nonprofit scientific research organization based at UC Santa Barbara, will host a Natural Gas Forum on campus on Sept. 19.

The free event aims to educate and inform the public about the complex issues surrounding natural gas usage and recent policy developments.

In 2013, Novim and the Environmental Defense Fund gathered experts to study natural gas emissions, focusing on methane leakage rates during production and distribution. The 14-member team examined causes, solutions and future research needs. Their findings were published in a 2014 edition of Science magazine.

The forum will feature expert panelists discussing the environmental impact of natural gas, including methane leakage concerns, and the legal challenges facing municipal natural gas bans.

Among the panelists are Ramón Alvarez, associate chief scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund; Steven Koonin, former undersecretary for science at the Energy Department in President Barack Obama’s administration; Ira Leifer, CEO of Bubbleology Research International; Alelia Parenteau, the City of Santa Barbara’s sustainability and resilience director; Santa Barbara County climate program manager Garrett Wong; and Stanford University economics professor Frank Wolak.

This timely discussion follows recent court decisions affecting natural gas policies in the City of Berkeley, as well as similar local efforts in Santa Barbara County.

Thursday’s event will be held at Campbell Hall, with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. and the program running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no charge, but reservations are encouraged.

It also will be broadcast as a webinar and recorded for future viewing.

Attendees can submit written questions both in-person and online. Click here for more information.