Wuerzburg (Germany) – From September 17 to 19, 2025, the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies (IFEX) at the University of Wuerzburg will once again host an international conference dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) and the study of unidentified flying objects and phenomena (UFOs/UAP).
Inhalt
– DEUTSCHE VERSION HIER
The IFEX SETI & UAP Conference 2025 aims to bring together scientists, policymakers, media representatives, and research institutions, highlight the latest developments, and foster interdisciplinary and international exchange.
IFEX
The Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies (IFEX) is the world’s first and only research center at a major university where, alongside space technology research and development, SETI and UAP are officially studied within an academic framework. Led by Prof. Hakan Kayal, the IFEX team collaborates with an international network of associated members, including colleagues from other universities and research institutes, long-standing civilian UFO researchers, and specialist journalists.
Goals of the 2025 Conference
“Researching both SETI and UAP requires an interdisciplinary approach, since these topics have both scientific and societal dimensions,” explains Prof. Kayal. “The societal dimension is gaining importance and must be increasingly considered in research. For this reason, the conference seeks not only scientific participation but also contributions from socially relevant institutions—politics, government agencies, experienced practitioners, and the media. The content will focus on debates, the exchange of up-to-date findings, and the expansion of collaborations for scientific progress.”
The 2025 conference will be organized into three main pathways:
- Technical and scientific developments
- Studies, analyses, and notable case studies
- Societal aspects
Speakers and Topics
Following the opening lecture by Prof. Hakan Kayal, anomalistics journalist and GreWi editor Andreas Müller will present on historical and recent UFO sightings in German-speaking regions. Dr. Douglas Buettner (University of Utah) and former U.S. Navy pilot and UFO witness Ryan Graves (Americans for Safe Aerospace) will join remotely to discuss the latest detection methods and their experiences with pilot sightings and reporting procedures in the United States. Dr. Wes Watters (Wellesley College, USA) will provide insights into the detection and characterization of UAP through optical all-sky and telescope observations. Swedish astronomer Dr. Beatriz Villarroel (Nordita Institute) will present her latest results on the search for non-human artifacts using hypothesis-driven methods. Christian Riegler (IFEX) will report on the UAP component of IFEX’s contribution „MarsSymphony“ to the conceptual German Mars mission „VaMEx“. The first day will close with a presentation by Rainer Haseitl (Project Hessdalen) on the 2024 measurement campaign in Norway.
The second day will open with a talk by Dr. Danny Ammon and André Kramer (Society for the Study of the UFO Phenomenon, GEP e.V.) on the “Oz Factor,” describing altered states of reality perception during encounters. Dr. Andreas Anton (Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, IGPP) will explore exosociology and the potential societal consequences of first contact with extraterrestrials. Astrobiologist Prof. Dirk Schulze-Makuch (TU Berlin) will present the “Zoo Hypothesis” as a possible solution to the Fermi Paradox, examining the potential role of UAP in this framework. Dr. Christian Peters (Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, BIGSSS) will provide a provocative analysis of secrecy and disclosure policies on UAP information in the U.S. Prof. Matthew Szydagis (University at Albany) will ask, “How much time remains until catastrophic disclosure?” Berlin-based lawyer Klaus Stähle, author of Legal Issues in Contact with Extraterrestrials, will analyze from a legal perspective whether Earth might be considered a condominium of humanity in the event of contact with non-human intelligence (NHI). Dr. M. Cifone, Director of the Society for UAP Studies (SUAPS), will examine the role of evidence in UAP cases. Finally, Philipp Ailleris and Kai-Uwe Schrogl will present ESA’s current positions on UAP, referencing the first exchange between the European Space Agency and IFEX in June 2025.
The third day will be dedicated to internal discussions, open exchange, splinter meetings, and future perspectives. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour the IFEX laboratories, the UAP all-sky camera, and the SONATE-2 satellite control center.
For further information, please click HERE
Source: IFEX
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