SCU CONFERENCE 2026
Important Info for Virtual Attendees
The below is for Virtual and In Person Attendees and in person attendees.
Here is the Conference Link for all recorded speakers. Have your invitation link ready and Whova login. This service will be available for 90 days past the date of the event for all paid attendees. We thank you for your contribution and support.
Conference Link ==> 2026 SCU Conference Link
Christopher Mellon to Keynote SCU’s 2026 Annual Conference in Toronto—Registration Now Open
Leading Scientists, Defense Experts, and Policymakers to Explore the Role of Science and Governments in UAP Research
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, March 16, 2026 -- The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) convened its Annual Conference July 24–26, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, bringing together leading scientists, engineers, policymakers, and national security experts to examine the growing role of science and government transparency in understanding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).
The conference opened Friday evening, July 24, with a featured keynote address by Christopher Mellon, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Mellon will delived remarks at the opening dinner held at the Windsor Arms Hotel.
A leading advocate for congressional oversight and transparency in aviation safety, Mellon has consistently called for accountability from military authorities regarding UAP operating in controlled airspace.
“The American people and their elected representatives deserve full transparency when it comes to unidentified objects operating in controlled military airspace,” Mellon said. “If the Air Force possesses relevant data, analysis, or operational insights, it has a responsibility to provide sworn testimony before Congress. Accountability and clarity are not optional in matters that touch aviation safety and national security.”
As the host nation, Canada has taken a formal approach to UAP, launching the Sky Canada Project in 2023 to improve transparency and coordination in handling UAP information. SCU welcomed participation from academic researchers, conference attendees, and Canadian officials and encourages continued international collaboration.
The 2026 theme, “The Role of Science and Global Governments in UAP Research,” reflects what many consider a pivotal moment in UAP research and investigation. Advancing knowledge at the forefront of the phenomena requires robust public science and improved government transparency.
Conference sessions, held at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre, focused on structured data collection, calibrated sensor systems, analytic rigor, and cross-sector collaboration between academia, government, and industry.
“For nearly a decade, SCU has led rigorous, evidence-based UAP research and consistently advocated for government cooperation with scientific organizations and academia,” said Robert Powell, Executive Board Member of SCU. “Now we are at a tipping point—this conference brings together scientists, policymakers, and defense experts to set the standards and collaborative frameworks that will enable real, lasting progress.”
Also addressing the conference was Dr. Randy Bostick, physicist and former Science Advisor to the U.S. Department of Defense’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Dr. Bostick has emphasized that meaningful progress depends on high-quality data, disciplined analytic methodologies, and coordinated collaboration across institutions.
SCU will offered fully interactive virtual attendance option via the Whova platform, allowing participants worldwide to view live-streamed sessions, engage in discussions, and network with attendees.
About the SCU 2026 Annual Conference:
SCU’s Annual Conference took place July 24–26, 2026, in vibrant Toronto, Canada — a global hub for innovation, aerospace, and scientific collaboration. The conference sessions were held at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre, with a special opening dinner and keynote by Christopher Mellon at the nearby Windsor Arms Hotel. Registration is now closed. All sessions will be available to the public at a later date on our website and You tube channel.
About the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU):
The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies is a nonprofit interdisciplinary research organization dedicated to the scientific investigation of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Composed of scientists, engineers, former military and intelligence professionals, and law enforcement experts, SCU applies rigorous analytical methods and advanced tools to evaluate aerial and anomalous phenomena. SCU collaborates with government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector partners to ensure objective, evidence-based analysis, enhance reporting systems, and provide actionable insights to improve public safety and airspace security. Its research supports transparency, responsible evaluation, and the advancement of scientific understanding of phenomena that are not readily explained by conventional technologies.
2026 Speakers
Christopher Mellon
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and former Minority Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Title: Science, National Security and UAP
Randy Bostick, PhD
Physics, former Science Advisor, AARO, U.S.
Title: Applying Scientific Rigor to UAP Study
Benjamin Fields, BA
Astronomy and Astrophysics, U.S.
Title: UAP in a SETI Context: Constructing Astrobiologically Plausible Origin Scenarios for E.T. Visitation
Christian Peters, PhD
Managing Director, Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, University of Bremen, Germany
Title: Between Epistemic Ideals and Political Realities: Rethinking the Role of Science in Governmental UAP Research
Chris Rutkowski, BSc, MEd
Science journalist, research coordinator of the Canadian UFO Survey, Manitoba, CA
Canadian Government Studies on UAP: Sky Canada, UTIAS, and More
Prof. Doug Buettner
Physics, Univ. of Utah, and Deputy Chief Scientist at the Stevens Institute of Technology, AIRC, U.S., SCU Board member
Title: Revisiting the Aguadilla Trans-medium UAP
Gergo Szoboszlai, MD candidate
MD candidate, Semmelweis University, Hungary
Title: Neurological and Health Effects Associated with Human Encounters with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)
Glen A. Robertson, MS
Physics and Mathematics, NASA-MSFC Retired, U.S.
Title: Warp Drive from Quantum Field Energy
Prof. Kevin Knuth
Physics, University at Albany, U.S.
Title: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP): Energy and Power — How Anomalous is Anomalous?
Prof. Laura Dominé
Physics, Natl. Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT) and Kyoto University, Japan, SCU Board Member
Title: Analysis of Historical UAP Reports in Japan
Prof. Matthew Szydagis
Physics, University at Albany, U.S.
Title: UAPx Reborn Within the Academy
Michael Vaillant, M.Sc.
Data scientist, formerly at the National Centre for Space Studies’ GEIPAN, France
Title: Lessons from the GEIPAN Experience: Science, UAP Investigation, and the Case for an International Standards Coalition
Maya Cowan, PhD candidate
Anthropology, Binghamton University, U.S.
Title: Observing the Unknown: Emerging Cultures of Expertise in UAP Science
Mike Cifone, PhD
Philosophy, Pres./ED, Society for UAP Studies, U.S.
Title: Building a Science of UAP: Institutional Design, Policy, and Scientific Legitimacy
Rainer Haseitl, BSc
Data acquisition and software, Germany, CIO Hessdalen Project, Norway
Title: Invitation to Hessdalen: An Active Hotspot for Instrumental UAP Research
Prof. Richard Griffiths
Physics and astronomy, University of Hawaii, U.S.
Title: Can we use the equivalent of ‘gravitational lensing’ to verify or constrain the use of spacetime bubbles for the motion of extraterrestrial spacecraft?
Robert W. McGwier, PhD
Cohere Technology Group, U.S.
Title: Multi-Modal Autonomous Sensing: A Scientifically Credible Framework for Persistent UAP and USO Detection
Sean Grosvenor, BA
Crime scene investigation field supervisor, retired, U.S.
Title: SCU Investigations
Prof. Stephen Bruehl
Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, U.S.
Title: Associations Between Transient Star-Like Objects, Nuclear Testing, and UAP: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Peer-Reviewed UAP Science
Micah Hanks
SCU Conference 2026 Event M.C.
Editor and Co-founder of The Debrief, a science, technology, and defense news site that has closely followed developments related to the U.S. government’s collection and evaluation of
information related to UAP