Harvard UAP Science Advisory Council Established

Formation and Mandate

In June 2026, following President Trump's directive to advance UAP transparency, the White House tasked Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb with assembling the UAP Science Advisory Council—the first formal scientific body dedicated to advising the U.S. government on unidentified anomalous phenomena. The council was formally announced in mid-June 2026 and represents a watershed moment in institutionalizing UFO research as a legitimate scientific and national security matter.

Council Composition and Structure

The council comprises 18 publicly named members, with striking institutional concentration: 12 members maintain formal ties to Harvard University, including 5 faculty and staff, 3 postdoctoral researchers, and 4 research affiliates of Loeb's Galileo Project. Notably, the membership includes both true believers and skeptics—Michael Shermer, a prominent UFO skeptic, sits on the board to ensure scientific rigor. Billionaire entrepreneur Ben Lamm, whose company Colossal co-funds Harvard's Wyss Institute, also holds membership. The council operates on a voluntary, unpaid basis with no dedicated budget.

Communication flows through Loeb and a parallel UAP Governing Board whose membership remains non-public, creating a structured separation between the advisory council and administrative oversight.

Mission and Methodology

The council's charter directs it to coordinate UAP investigations across federal agencies and assist with "timely coordination of declassification of UAP-related information." Its core mission is to provide scientific guidance on determining the nature of unresolved UAP cases and recommend improved methods for collecting and analyzing aerial phenomena data. The council commits to publishing its findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals, legitimizing UAP research within academia.

Members represent diverse disciplines—astrophysics, oceanography, physics, philosophy, and engineering—reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the UAP question.

Government Coordination

The council operates at the highest levels of national security apparatus, tasked by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the FBI, and the broader Intelligence Community. As of July 2026, the council has formally requested the Pentagon declassify 50 UAP-related items but has yet to receive responses.

Significance for Disclosure Movement

The council's establishment marks a turning point: UAP is now officially treated as a subject requiring scientific expertise and rigorous investigation at the highest government levels. Unlike previous ad-hoc investigations (Project Blue Book, AAWSAP), this body has standing within both the Trump administration and the scientific establishment. The inclusion of skeptics alongside researchers, the commitment to peer-reviewed publication, and the direct advisory relationship to national security agencies suggest an institutional attempt to balance openness with rigor.