SUAPS Members Help Shape International Dialogue at the SOL 2025 Symposium

Baveno, Italy — The 2025 SOL Symposium convened researchers from more than a dozen countries at the elegant Hotel Dino on the shores of Lake Maggiore, near the Swiss border. Over three days of panels, lectures, and informal discussions, the symposium explored emerging questions in UAP studies, emphasizing a recurring theme for the field: meaningful progress requires both interdisciplinary methods and transparent public engagement. SUAPS members were prominent contributors, presenting research that spanned archival astrophysics, legal reasoning, social science, and investigative methodology.

Setting the Stage: An International Gathering

The symposium drew approximately 100 attendees, with roughly half traveling from the United States and others arriving from Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine. Attendees were greeted by the picturesque setting of Baveno, where informal lakeside gatherings allowed participants to connect across disciplines. Notably, Edoardo Russo, head of the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici and SUAPS board member, facilitated an inclusive dinner for early-career researchers who could not attend the donors’ event, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the weekend.

Dr. Beatriz Villarroel Opens the Symposium with Archival Evidence Work

SUAPS Board Member Dr. Beatriz Villarroel delivered the opening talk, focusing on transient light phenomena captured in pre-space-age star-mapping images. She explained the selection criteria for the archival plates and early findings from her growing dataset, emphasizing that the images were taken at night, eliminating sunlight reflection as a potential source of anomalies. Villarroel framed the challenge of UAP research as transforming isolated observations into structured, analyzable datasets, setting a tone of methodological rigor that resonated throughout the symposium.

Dr. Christian Peters Examines Secrecy and Political Realism

On Sunday, SUAPS Advisory Board Member Dr. Christian Peters explored secrecy norms, institutional incentives, and public expectations regarding UAP reporting. Peters highlighted the limitations of binary debates on UAP phenomena and introduced the concept of a societal “serenity crisis” — a potential public reaction when confronted with unexplained aerial phenomena. His presentation underscored the importance of developing conceptual frameworks that enable both researchers and the public to process anomalous information responsibly.

Dr. Michael Bohlander Applies Legal Reasoning to Experiencer Testimony

Retired international judge and SUAPS member Dr. Michael Bohlander analyzed reported UAP abduction scenarios through the lens of comparative human rights law. His talk outlined conditions under which aspects of experiencer testimony could raise legal or ethical questions, such as standards of international law regarding consent.While not asserting factual claims about specific cases, Bohlander’s approach demonstrated how legal reasoning can structure the evaluation of complex testimony and clarify ethical considerations in UAP research. SUAPS founder and Director Micke Cifone described the talk as “touching the core of the strangeness” at the heart of the UAP issue.

Dr. Michael Valliant Reflects on Two Decades of GEIPAN Experience

SUAPS Board Member and former GEIPAN analyst Dr. Michael Valliant presented Uniting Experience and Science, a retrospective on French UAP case analysis and software tools designed to systematize investigator reasoning. He emphasized the centrality of the witness in UAP research, describing methods to reduce bias, strengthen evidentiary consistency, and integrate technical assessment with human experience. Valliant’s talk reinforced the symposium’s broader theme: rigorous inquiry requires attention to both physical data and the individuals observing it.

Highlights from the Symposium Program

The SOL 2025 agenda featured a range of complementary topics:

• Retired US Army Col. Karl Nell traced UAP disclosure timelines and historical patterns of non-disclosure.

• Luc Dini, chairman of the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France, highlighted decades of GEIPAN case data, emphasizing the physical reality of UAP.

• Aerospace psychologist Dr. Iya Whiteley demonstrated novel approaches to witness reporting, with Dr. Whiteley presenting research in breathwork techniques to reduce cognitive bias. The Skywatcher group demonstrated their methods and instrumentation for direct observational data collection in the field.

• Religious studies scholar Dr. Diana Pasulka discussed parallels between Marian apparitions and UAP encounters, considering culturally adaptive interfaces as potential points of contact.

• Legendary scientist Jacques Vallee recounted historical cases that demonstrated rigorous witness documentation and sample collection.

• Italian researcher Roberto Pinotti presented archival documents related to a 1933 UAP incident in fascist Italy, highlighting historical secrecy and ongoing investigative challenges.

  
  

Across panels, attendees engaged in detailed discussions on sensor calibration, historical case studies, cognitive interpretation, and open research networks. SUAPS members contributed extensively, providing perspectives that bridged disciplinary and methodological divides.

Looking Ahead

The Society for UAP Studies continues to support member participation in international forums to strengthen shared standards, expand public literacy, and build cumulative knowledge across disciplines. SUAPS invites researchers to submit concepts and join ongoing initiatives through the Society’s Integrated Research Portfolio.

Learn how to submit research concepts or join an upcoming initiative at: https://www.societyforuapstudies.org/aura-upward