Boston: AAAS UFO Symposium
The American Association for the Advancement of Science hosted a two-day UFO symposium at its annual meeting in Boston. Experts debated investigations, cases, and evidence requirements.
Background
Event
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) held a special two-day programme on unidentified flying objects during its annual meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts on December 26–27, 1969. It was chaired by prominent scientists: Thornton Page (NASA), Philip Morrison (MIT), Walter Orr Roberts (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research), and Carl Sagan (Cornell).
Contributions
James E. McDonald delivered a sharp critique of the Air Force investigations and of the Colorado project. He analysed cases such as RB-47 and Lakenheath-Bentwaters in detail. Donald Menzel argued that all sightings were explicable, even if some explanations seemed convoluted. Philip Morrison emphasised hard evidence that would have to stand up in court and in science.
Significance
The symposium marked a milestone in the scientific debate about UFOs despite the controversy. The contributions appeared in 1972 as the book UFOs: A Scientific Debate from Cornell University Press, edited by Sagan and Page. It highlighted shortcomings in official investigations and called for more rigorous approaches.