Academia on UAPs, Consciousness, Non-Human Intelligence, and Related Frontiers

Around the world, academic institutions are beginning to explore topics related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), non-human intelligence (NHI), and their intersections with science, history, philosophy, and culture. This growing field of inquiry spans disciplines — from physics, astronomy, and engineering to anthropology, religious studies, psychology, philosophy, and media studies. These courses reflect a shift in academic curiosity, showing that the unknown reaches across many domains and deserves serious, interdisciplinary attention.

This page is a work in progress. If you know of courses, professors, or programs exploring these questions, please reach out. I’m excited to watch this list blossom and grow!

united states

Rice University

• Rice University’s GEM (Gnosticism, Esotericism, and Mysticism) Program, founded by Dr. Jeffrey Kripal, explores hidden and alternative spiritual traditions throughout history, including visionary experiences, esoteric texts, and mystical practices. Closely connected is the Archives of the Impossible, with Karin Austin, which houses a groundbreaking collection of materials related to UFOs, near-death experiences, paranormal phenomena, and other extraordinary events. The archives include the John Mack files and offer scholars a unique space to study the boundaries of knowledge, belief, and human experience. Together, these initiatives reflect Rice’s leadership in expanding the academic study of the anomalous and the unknown.
• Many leading scholars on these topics have presented at the Archives of the Impossible conference at Rice University. Rather than list each one here, you can explore their bios and work directly on the 2025 conference page (2023 presenters are here.) It’s a rich resource and an excellent place to start.

Stanford University

• The Sol Foundation Symposium Organized by Sol Foundation’s board of directors—Dr. Garry Nolan (Stanford University), Dr. Peter Skafish (anthropologist and philosopher), and Jonathan Berte—this symposium brings together leading and emerging voices in UAP research. Dr. Nolan, a professor of pathology at Stanford, is known for his scientific investigations into anomalous phenomena. Dr. Skafish contributes deep expertise in the cultural and philosophical dimensions of non-human intelligence. Together, they curate a lineup of speakers exploring the scientific, cultural, and existential implications of UAPs in a rapidly shifting world.

Harvard University

• The Galileo Project– Led by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, the Galileo Project brings the search for extraterrestrial technology into mainstream science. Unlike traditional SETI, it looks for physical evidence such as UAPs or interstellar objects using transparent and systematic methods.
• Radioactive Processes and Astrophysicists
  Explores advanced astrophysical phenomena, providing foundational knowledge relevant to cosmic anomalies.
• Dr. John Mack
  Dr. John Mack was a Pulitzer Prize–winning psychiatrist at Harvard who courageously explored alien abduction accounts with empathy and academic rigor. His willingness to engage with experiencers challenged conventional views and led to a rare internal investigation by Harvard, from which he emerged without sanction. Mack’s legacy continues through the John E. Mack Institute and the Archives of the Impossible at Rice University, where his papers inspire open-minded scholarship on extraordinary human experiences.

U.S. Naval Academy

• Mystery Religions and Warrior Initiation Rites- How did the ancient Greeks and Romans prepare for war? Why is shamanism related to UFO religions? Is Fight Club real? How are Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek) and L.Ron Hubbard (founder of Scientology) related to the secret US government Remote Viewing program that was able to locate all nuclear-armed submarines in the world? Does the Navy have a UAP retrieval team that uses Sanskrit to communicate with extraterrestrials? These and other questions will be answered in this examination of ancient mystery religions and their role in modern warrior cultures. How can these secrets be used to produce better modern war fighters?

University of Virginia

• Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) University of Virginia- This pioneering department explores the nature of consciousness through rigorous research on phenomena such as near-death experiences, memories of past lives in children, and other unexplained aspects of human perception. Their work challenges materialist assumptions and opens new questions about the mind, identity, and what it means to be human.

• Science and Controversy in Astronomy
  Addresses scientific debates and controversies, including those related to unexplained aerial phenomena.

Binghamton University- Starting 2027, PhD candidate Maya Cowan will teach the Anthropology of UAP and the Paranormal.

James Madison University

• Advanced Tracking of Identified Aerial Phenomenon in the New Digital Age
  Focuses on methodologies for tracking and studying aerial phenomena using emerging digital technologies.

Wellesley College — Astronomy

• Anomalies in the History of Science
  Studies scientific anomalies that challenge established knowledge, including UAP-related cases.

Boston College — Writing Program

• I Want to Believe: UFOs, Myth, and Fact
  Engages students in critical writing and analysis about UFOs, balancing mythological and factual perspectives.

York College — Political Science

• Science and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
  Examines the political, scientific, and societal dimensions of aerial phenomena.

University of Arizona — Astronomy, Geosciences, Planetary Sciences

• Life in the Cosmos
  Explores astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life, with implications for understanding UAPs.

University of Colorado Boulder — Philosophy, Astrobiology

• Philosophical and Societal Issues in Astrobiology
  Considers ethical, philosophical, and societal questions raised by the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

University of New Hampshire

• Anomalous Thinking: USOs and Identified Anomalous Phenomena
  Encourages critical examination of underwater and aerial anomalies and their cultural significance.

University of Michigan — Online Courses

• UFOs: Scanning the Skies–

University of North Carolina

• Dr. Diana Heath Pasulka Diana Walsh Pasulka at UNC Wilmington is a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her work explores the intersection of religion, technology, and extraordinary human experiences. She teaches courses such as “Exploring Religions,” “Modern Philosophy,” and “Religion and Popular Culture.” Beyond the classroom, she offers online courses on topics like UFOs, anomalous phenomena, and esoteric traditions through her DWPasulka Courses platform. Dr. Pasulka is also the author of American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology and Encounters: Experiences with Non-Human Intelligences, works that examine how belief in the extraordinary shapes

Portland Community College

• From Film to Real Life? UFOs, UAPs, Government and the Media
  Journalist Brian Anslinger examines congressional interest in UFOs, whistleblower accounts referencing a secret UFO crash retrieval program, and how science fiction and media coverage shape our understanding of the topic.

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worldwide