Abstract of SSE/Sturrock UFO report
From: campbell@ufomind.com (Glenn Campbell, Las Vegas)
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 15:19:20 -0800
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The full SSE UFO report, mentioned in the recent Washington Post article,
can be found at http://www.jse.com/ufo_reports/Sturrock/toc.html
Following is the abstract...
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Abstract
P. A. STURROCK
The purpose of this four-day workshop was to review purported physical
evidence associated with UFO reports, with a view to assessing whether
the further acquisition and investigation of such evidence is likely
to help solve the UFO problem, namely the determination of the cause
or causes of these reports.
Seven UFO investigators presented a variety of physical evidence that
they claimed was associated with UFO reports: photographic evidence;
luminosity estimates; radar evidence; interference with automobile
functioning; interference with aircraft equipment; apparent
gravitational or inertial effects; ground traces; injuries to
vegetation; physiological effects on witnesses; and analysis of
debris. There was in addition a presentation of investigations into
recurrent phenomena that occur in the Hessdalen Valley in Norway.
A review panel was composed of nine scientists of diverse expertise
and interests. The panel offered comments and criticisms concerning
the investigations that were presented, and also prepared a summary of
their overall response, with the following key elements:
-- Concerning the case material presented by the investigators, the
panel concluded that a few reported incidents may have involved
rare but significant phenomena such as electrical activity, but
there was no convincing evidence pointing to unknown physical
processes or to the involvement of extraterrestrial intelligence.
-- The panel nevertheless concluded that it would be valuable to
carefully evaluate UFO reports since, whenever there are
unexplained observations, there is the possibility that
scientists will learn something new by studying these
observations.
-- However, to be credible, such evaluations must take place with a
spirit of objectivity and a willingness to evaluate rival
hypotheses.
-- The best prospect for achieving a meaningful evaluation of
relevant hypotheses is likely to come from the examination of
physical evidence.
-- The chances of a significant advance are considered to be greater
now than at the time of the Colorado Project that led to the
Condon Report thirty years ago, because of advances in scientific
knowledge and technical capabilities, and in view of the example
of a modest but effective UFO research project provided by the
French space agency CNES.
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RELEVANCE OF THIS MESSAGE: Scientific study of UFOs
See: http://www.ufomind.com/people/s/sse/
See: http://www.ufomind.com/people/s/sturrock/
Created: Jul 1, 1998
