In speculating about exotic atmospheric plasma phenomena the report's author had made the classic mistake of trying to explain one mystery in terms of another.

Nick Pope

Categorized in : Science

They wont go, of course. ... I think this just shows the huge lev... by Nick Pope

They wont go, of course. ... I think this just shows the huge level of interest in this subject.

Scientific advice should be sought when necessary for instance, if a soil sample needs to be checked for radioactivity, but one doesnt need to be a scientist, or even adopt a scientific methodology, to interview a witness, cross-check with information about flight paths and find out, say, that at the time and location of a particular UFO sighting, the Goodyear blimp was in the area.

I think the best way to characterize MUFON is to say that its a b... by Nick Pope

I think the best way to characterize MUFON is to say that its a broad church.

As is the case in the UFO community as a whole, MUFON members have a range of different views on the mystery, and, while bound together by a common interest, are a diverse group.

None of this detracts from the fact that they provide a valuable service to UFO witnesses, with field investigators looking into the sightings, sometimes turning up a conventional explanation and other times simply giving perplexed witnesses someone with whom to engage.

MUFON is clearly at a disadvantage. by Nick Pope

MUFON is clearly at a disadvantage.

While the research side of MUFONs work needs to be scientific if its to have credibility, I dont think this applies so much to the day-to-day business of investigatingUFO sightings.

Thus, it needs to ensure it can attract hardworking and able people, retain them, and identify and promote the best of its people into leadership positions. And all of this has to be done without the organization becoming overly bureaucratic. Its quite a challenge, and I wish them well.

The study was highly classified and extremely sensitive, not least because the MoD consistently told parliament, the media and the public that UFOs were of limited interest and ‘no defense significance’, our concern was that if the existence of the study became known, it would have exposed an internal position on the phenomenon that was different from our public position.

In places it looked like a conclusion-led study where data had been used to support a personal opinion, the problem with an intelligence study like Project Condign is that it's so secret and sensitive that those involved don't reach out to subject matter experts outside the intelligence community.