UFODATA – A Way Forward in UFO Science

At UFODATA we seek to create a systematic, rigorous science of UFO phenomena. Such a science is needed because of misplaced certainties on both sides of the UFO debate: “believers” convinced that UFOs are extraterrestrials, and “skeptics” equally convinced that UFOs do not even exist. Our own view is that humanity knows very little about the true nature of unexplained UFO reports, and that the only way to resolve this lack of understanding is through serious scientific study. This is now possible for the first time in the history of UFO research as a result of an unprecedented convergence of high resolution digital camera technologies, off-the shelf scientific instrumentation, powerful low-cost computing platforms, and ubiquitous high-speed internet access.

... learn more about previous scientific efforts to study UFOs

The UFODATA Project

Our goal is to exploit this technological convergence by building a large network of automated surveillance stations with sophisticated sensors that will monitor the skies 24/7 looking for aerial anomalies. After over two years of developing our ideas, making plans, and testing relevant technologies we are now ready to move into the next phase – a ‘proof of concept’ by developing our first working prototype of a fully functioning monitoring station. This station will have a core optical unit with cameras capable of detecting and recording both an image and spectra, a magnetic sensing unit, instrumentation to detect microwave and other radiation, and other sensors to record atmospheric and local environmental data. Alarm triggers will initiate recording by all the equipment, permitting capture of a broad range of physical data that can then be analyzed by experts.

... learn more about our system’s design and technology

Our Team

UFODATA's core technical team now includes more than a dozen volunteers – scientists, engineers, technologists, and UFO researchers with over 250 combined years of involvement in this area. Some of us already have extensive experience in fieldwork or automated scientific data collection on UFO phenomena. We are also joined by several ‘silent partners,’ all scientists and engineers at academic institutions who are prepared to lend a hand, but because of the cultural stigma attached to UFOs have chosen to keep their involvement private. Still, we have need of further forms of expertise and thus are actively seeking additional volunteers.

... learn more about our team and how you can join the project

Crowd-Funding a UFO Science

To finance potentially large projects like this scientists usually look to official grants. However, it is impossible for us to pursue this funding model because both governmental and scientific authorities observe a ‘taboo’ on the whole subject. So if there is going to be a science of UFOs it will have to come from the bottom-up rather than the top-down. Thus, our strategy will be to rely on crowd-funding, small donations from the thousands – even millions – of you out there who, like us, think that UFOs deserve serious scientific scrutiny.

... learn more about crowdfunding the UFODATA Project