Ensuring benefits from North American shale gas development: Towards a research agenda

•A long-term research effort is needed to ensure benefits of shale gas development.•Stakeholders need support to make good decisions in today’s natural gas sector.•The shale gas “revolution” provides tremendous opportunities if done right.

The North American shale gas “revolution” provides tremendous opportunities, but our scientific understanding of this transition and its potential near- and long-term social, economic, and environmental impacts lags behind the rapid pace of change. Investors, policy makers, and other stakeholders need greater clarity to make robust decisions in today’s dynamic natural gas sector. A comprehensive, interdisciplinary research agenda can help inform these decisions.