Christopher Mellon to Headline 2026 SCU Conference
- Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
News Release
For Immediate Release
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies
Public Relations
RELEASE DATE:
May 4, 2026
Christopher Mellon to Headline 2026 SCU Conference on
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena as 19 Scientists
Convene
Former Pentagon Intelligence Leader to Deliver Keynote at “The Role
of Science and Global Governments in UAP Research,” July 24–26 in
Toronto.
WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, May 4, 2026 — Christopher Mellon, former
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and former Minority Staff
Director of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, will headline the
2026 Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) Annual Conference, taking place
July 24–26, 2026, at the Marriott Eaton Centre in Toronto. The theme of the
conference is “The Role of Science and Global Governments in UAP Research.”
Mellon’s keynote address, “Science, National Security, and UAP,” will anchor a
three-day international gathering of scientists, researchers, and policy experts
examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) through rigorous,
multidisciplinary approaches.
“SCU has been at the forefront of bringing scientific rigor to the field of UAP. I’m
delighted to keynote their conference this year and share my insights about the
intersection of science, government, and national security,” Mellon states.
Hosted by SCU, a U.S.-based organization with global membership, the
conference will bring together leading voices from Canada, the United States,
Japan, France, Germany, Hungary, and beyond. Participants will explore UAPresearch across fields, including physics and astronomy, neurology,
anthropology, artificial intelligence, and data science.
Featured speakers include:
• Benjamin Fields, BA, astronomy and astrophysics, U.S.: 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: 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, SCU Board member U.S.:
Revisiting the Aguadilla Trans-medium UAP
• Gergo Szoboszlai, MD candidate, Semmelweis University, Hungary:
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.: Warp Drive from Quantum Field Energy
• Prof. Kevin Knuth, physics, University at Albany, U.S.: 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, SCU Board
member, Japan: Analysis of Historical UAP Reports in Japan and Critical
Evaluation of Studies Alleging Evidence for Technosignatures in the POSS1-
E Photographic Plates• Prof. Matthew Szydagis, physics, University at Albany, U.S.: UAPx Reborn
Within the Academy
• Michael Vaillant, M.Sc, data scientist, formerly at the National Centre for
Space Studies’ GEIPAN, France: 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.:
Observing the Unknown: Emerging Cultures of Expertise in UAP Science
• Mike Cifone, PhD, philosophy, Pres./ED, Society for UAP Studies, U.S.:
Building a Science of UAP: Institutional Design, Policy, and Scientific
Legitimacy
• Rainer Haseitl, BSc, data acquisition and software, Germany, CIO
Hessdalen Project, Norway: Invitation to Hessdalen: An Active Hotspot for
Instrumental UAP Research
• Randy Bostick, PhD, physics, former Science Advisor, All-domain Anomaly
Resolution Office (AARO), U.S.: Applying Scientific Rigor to UAP Study
• Prof. Richard Griffiths, physics and astronomy, University of Hawaii, U.S.:
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.: 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.: SCU Investigations
• Prof. Stephen Bruehl, anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University School of
Medicine, U.S.: Associations Between Transient Star-Like Objects, Nuclear
Testing, and UAP - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Peer-Reviewed
UAP ScienceSCU’s goal for the conference is to raise awareness of UAP research as interest in it continues to grow across scientific and governmental communities worldwide.
The organization is dedicated to advancing transparency, data integrity, and
cross-disciplinary collaboration in advancing the field of UAP research.
“Science has always shared its discoveries freely, while governments have
guarded theirs in the name of national security,” said Robert Powell, co-founder
of SCU. “First contact will render that distinction obsolete because a civilization
that reaches across the stars will see us as one single pale blue dot.”
The conference will also offer opportunities for students, media, government
(former and active), civilian researchers, and academics to engage directly
with experts and participate in discussions shaping the future of UAP science.
For more information, including registration, tickets, schedule details, and
accommodations, visit https://www.explorescu.org/conferences/scu-
conference-2026 or follow updates on X at @ExploreSCU.
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.
For more information, visit http://www.explorescu.org/
Conference Media Contact:
Chrissy Newton
(416) 705-9523