The Science And Politics Of UFO Research

A Symposium October 28 and 29, 1995 at the Radisson Hotel St. Paul, Minnesota

The American government holds more than a trillion classified documents and there is a growing trend towards conducting science in secret.

Increasingly, scientists sign away their freedoms to work on government-funded research. By choosing what kind of research to fund, the government can-Qand sometimes doesQ- control the direction of scientific progress, often keeping the knowledge gained to itself. As a result, we now have good reason to doubt what we are told about the world by both government authorities and many of those in the scientific community.

The 1995 Science and Politics of UFO Research Symposium will use the UFO phenomenon as a vehicle with which to explore the closed and cloistered world of government research, the process of scientific discovery, and the strange and often uncomfortable relationship between science and politics.

Regardless of what you think or believe about UFOs, the phenomenon provides a unique living classroom in which we can explore how science works in the real world.

All sessions will take place in the Minnesota Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel, 11 East Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Early registration discount before August 31! See information below.

Scheduled To Speak

Terry Hansen, science journalist, symposium moderator
Glenn Campbell is a former computer software developer turned anti-secrecy activist who has susccessfully called the attention of the national news media to strange goings on at Area 51, a highly secret desert research facility that some have claimed is involved in government UFO research.
Don C. Donderi, associate professor, is a research psychologist who has an interest in the UFO abduction phenomenon. He participated in a conference on the subject held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 1992. He has studied the UFO phenomenon since 1966.
Ann Druffel is a long-time UFO researcher and author of several books and many articles on the subject. She is just completing a biography of the late University of Arizona atmospheric physicist James McDonald, who courageously defended the cause of UFO research in the 1960s.
Richard Haines, Ph.D., is a physiological psychologist retired from NASA Ames Research Center, where he did extensive research on various aspects of the U.S. space program. He has a special interest in pilot reports of UFOs, analysis of UFO films and photos, and CE-IV (abduction) reports. He is the author of several books about UFOs.
David M. Jacobs, professor, teaches a college-level course in UFO research at Temple University. He received one of the first doctorates awarded for research on a UFO-related subject, and is author of The UFO Controversy in America and Secret Life, a study of UFO abduction reports.
George Knapp is an investigative journalist and video producer best known for breaking the story of Bob Lazar, a self-professed government scientist who claims to have back- engineered UFO technology at Area 51. Knapp has more recently traveled to the former Soviet Union where he interviewed Russian scientists about UFO research there.
Bruce Maccabee, Ph.D., is an optical physicist for the Naval Surface Weapons Research Lab. He has a special interest in UFO photos and films and has published several scientific papers on the subject.
Jeffrey W. Sainio is a broadcast technician and videotape analyst for the Mutual UFO Network. He has analyzed many videotapes alleged to be of UFOs, some of which he has concluded are genuine.
Michael Swords, professor, is a former editor of the Journal of UFO Studies for the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies. He has a special interest in the government's behind-the- scenes relationship with the controversial University of Colorado UFO research project headed by Dr. Edward Condon.

Symposium Schedule

Saturday, October 28

8:30 a.m. Conference check-in--St. Paul Radisson Hotel 
          Minnesota Ballroom foyer

9 a.m.    Welcome and Introduction to the UFO Controvers
          (Terry Hansen, science journalist, symposium 
          moderator)

9:20 a.m. UFO Evidence From Motion-Picture Films and 
          Photographs (Richard Haines, Ph.D., physiological
          psychologist,NASA Ames Research Center, retired)

10:20 a.m.Questions from audience and discussion

10:50 a.m.Break

11:05 a.m.Analysis of UFO Evidence From Videotape Records
          (Jeffrey W. Sainio, broadcast technician, MUFON 
          videotape analyst)

12:05 p.m.Questions from the audience and discussion

12:35 p.m.Break for lunch

2 p.m     Analysis of UFO Evidence From Videotapes and Films 
          (Bruce Maccabee, Ph.D., optical physicist, Naval 
          Surface Weapons Lab)

3 p.m.    Questions from audience and discussion

3:30 p.m. Break

3:45 p.m. UFO Research in the Former Soviet Union
          (George Knapp, investigative journalist, video 
          producer)

4:45 p.m. Questions from audience and discussion

5:15 p.m. Break for dinner

7:15 p.m. The University of Colorado "Condon" UFO Study and 
          the U.S. Government (Michael Swords, Ph.D., Western
          Michigan University,  former editor JUFOS, Center
          for UFO Studies)

8:15 p.m. Questions from audience and discussion

8:45 p.m. Panel discussion:  Media Coverage of the UFO 
          Controversy; Publishing UFO Research Results; The
          Politics of Science and Technology in the Post
          Cold-War Era; Conflicts of Interest Between Science
          and Weapons Development

          Participants: Terry Hansen (moderator)
                        Jeffrey Sainio
                        Bruce Maccabee
                        George Knapp
                        Michael Swords
                        Glenn Campbell

Sunday, October 29

8:30     .Conference check-inQSt. Paul Radisson Hotel 
          Minnesota Ballroom foyer

9 a.m.    Welcome back (Terry Hansen)
9:15 a.m. Tales of the Test Site: Area 51 and the Human 
          Circus (Glenn Campbell, anti-secrecy activist, Area
          51 Research Center)

10:15 a.m.Questions from audience and discussion

10:45 a.m.Break

11 a.m.   A Scientist versus the System: Dr. James E. 
          McDonald's Fight for UFO Knowledge (Ann Druffel,
          long-time UFO investigator and author of many books
          and articles on the subject)

Noon      Questions from audience and discussion

12:30 p.m.Break for lunch

2 p.m.    The History of UFO Abduction Research and Current 
          Issues(David M. Jacobs, Ph.D., Department of
          History, Temple University)
3 p.m.    Questions from audience and discussion

3:30 p.m. Break

3:45 p.m. The Scientific Context of Abduction Research
          (Don C. Donderi, Ph.D., associate professor,
          Department of Psychology, McGill University)

4:45 p.m. Questions from audience and discussion

5:15 p.m. Break for dinner.

7:15 p.m. Panel discussion: UFO Abduction Experience
          Hypotheses; Limitations of the Scientific Method;
          Current Research Handicaps

          Participants:Terry Hansen (moderator)
                       Ann Druffel
                       David Jacobs
                       Don Donderi
                       Richard Haines

8:45 p.m.Closing comments and adjourn.

Note: The above schedule may need to be revised as conference 
date approaches.

Registration Information

-- Two-day, single-day, or half-day rates are available. See rates below.

-- Preregistration is recommended. Early-bird discounts are available for those who register before August 31, 1995.

-- Please allow two to three weeks for registration processing. You will receive a written confirmation in the mail.

Fees:           Before August 31     After September 1
full two days:      $90                   $120
     one day:       $50                    $70
     half day:      $30                    $50

Student rate: 15% discount (high school and university students with i.d.)

Group Discount: 15% discount for groups of 10 or more (must register together as a group)

Note: If you are registering for the one-day or half-day option, there is no need to specify which day or half day you wish to attend.

Cancellations/Refunds: All cancellations must be in writing. Cancellations received before September 29, 1995, will receive a refund less a $25 processing charge. Cancellations received after September 30 will be subject to a $50 cancellation fee. No refunds will be made after October 13.

For additional information, call the Science Museum of Minnesota at (612) 221-4742.

E-mail address for content questions: twhansen@cuix.pscu.com

Accommodations

The Radisson Hotel is offering special rates for conference attendees. Some other nearby hotels are listed below as well. Plan to make reservations well in advance of conference dates.

Radisson Hotel 11 East Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55101

Special Conference Rate
$80 per night single or double
Airport Express service: $8 one way, $11.50 round-trip, shuttles every half hour
When you call for reservations, make sure to mention that you are registered for the Science Museum of Minnesota's UFO conference.
Call 1-800-333-3333 or 612-292-1900 (call early to ensure space availability)

Crown Sterling Suites 175 East 10th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101

Two-room suites
Regular suites: $139/night for single or double
Executive suites: $167/night for single or double
Free parking
Free airport shuttle
Call 1-800-433-4600

Kelly Inn Best Western 161 St. Anthony Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55101

$84/night for double room
$74/night for single room
Free parking
Call 612-227-8711

Registration

Complete this form and return to:

Science Museum of Minnesota
Continuing Education
30 East 10th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
fax: (612) 221-4528

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Registrations before August 31

two-days: (No. Attending) x $90 per person = $__________

one-day:  (No. Attending) x $50 per person = $__________

half-day: (No. Attending) x $30 per person = $__________

Check here if you are a student (15% discount)__________
Enclose a copy of ID card or fee statement.

                                   TOTAL DUE:$__________

Registrations on or after September 1

two-days: (No. Attending) x $120 per person =$__________

one-day:  (No. Attending) x $70 per person = $__________
 
half-day: (No. Attending) x $50 per person = $__________

Check here if you are a student (15% discount)__________
Enclose a copy of ID card or fee statement.

                                   TOTAL DUE:$__________


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Questions?

Call the Science Museum at (612) 221-4742

Or email penson@geom.umn.edu