UAP Flash Talk

The Problem of Evidence

• UAP research has relied on a forensic model: anecdotal reports, radar traces, etc.
• This is historical science, not experimental science.
• This approach is backward-looking and methodologically vague.

Shifting Toward Observational Science

• Proposes a new model of direct, instrumented observation.
• Treats historical reports as indicative, not conclusive.
• This is a pivot from reactive cataloging to an active science of observation.

Existential Empiricism

• Addresses the role of human experiencers.
• Demands a radically open methodology that is neither reductionist nor credulous.
• Treats experience as a real part of the evidentiary landscape.

Recommendations

• Deploy multi-modal sensor arrays.
• Support metadata standards for openness.
• Bridge NLP and qualitative analysis of witness records.
• Maintain archives of gray literature and observational data.
• Support interdisciplinary and conceptual research.

Summary

• UAP research requires a shift beyond a forensic model.
• It demands a new science of direct observation.
• It also needs a philosophical framework to understand the full scope of evidence.
• Ultimately, the challenge may be to redefine what counts as evidence.

Selected Publications