Introduction
In a post, dated 13 November 2023 I commented that: "We seem to have reached a 'tipping point' as regards the involvement of academia in UP studies," noting the increasing numbers of academics publishing article and books about the subject. Earlier, in another post, dated 12 September 2023, I wrote about the UAP related published work of Australian scholar Carole Cusack.
Dr. Andresen
Dr Jensine Andresen, an American academic has a Ph.D. from Harvard University; an M.A. from Columbia University and a B.S.E. from Princeton University; Her general topics of interest are the academic and societal implications of Extraterrestrial Intelligence, and other issues which relate to the Earth and space. She has recently published two UAP related books. The two books are:
1. "Hyperconflation: Recommending a Relational Alternative to the DataCentric Approach to UAP." July 2023. Independently published.
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| Image courtesy of Amazon Books |
2. "Hyperconvergence: Religion, Politics and UFOs." October 2023. Independently published.
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| Image courtesy of Amazon Books. |
The two books are inter-related. The first takes a look at the approach adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Intelligence Community, while the second examines the approach taken by whistleblowers and the U.S. Congress. Andresen believes that "People participating in both of the aforementioned trajectories are experiencing errors of perception."
Hyperconflation
"A main thesis of this book is that a datacentric approach to UAP is not appropriate for investigating extraterrestrial UAP."
"Conflating Human Made UAP with Extraterrestrial UFOs and USOs" notes that in early 2023, the mainstream media switched back from the term UAP to the term UFO and suggested that all UFOs were nothing more than conventional human made craft, and not extraterrestrial.
"Conflating Military with Civilian Data Collection" looks at the nature of UAP data collection. In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense created:
"...the office of Strategic Capital [OSC] to connect companies with perceived vital national security technology, with venture capitalists who could fund such companies."
Andresen points out that some OSC part-time employees also work part-time for venture capital companies, thus creating a potential conflict of interest. Andresen cites the case of an individual named Kirsten Bartok Touw, an aerospace and defense investor who works both for a venture capital company and the OSC. Illustrating the connection to UAP, Andresen's research found that the private entity Enigma Labs Inc. received pre-seed funding from two sources, namely FJ Labs and Touw.
"Conflating the UAP topic with the Counterterrorism (CT) Problem." Back in 1994 the CIA created its own way of investing in start-up companies, via the establishment of In-Q-Tel (IQT.) Data mining of open-source materials, combined with information from classified sources was used in the fight against terrorism.
"A main objective of the IQT-VC partnership is 'prediction'...anticipating technology questions so the USG remains ahead of the technology curve..."
Andresen uses the company named Palantir, founded by Alex Karp and Peter Thiel as a case study of technology that was converted to use as an anti-terrorism tool.
In reference to data mining, Andresen references Enigma Labs with an interest in UAP databases. Andreen notes an 18 January 2023 article by U.S. journalist Bryan Bender stating that NASA was holding a UAP summit and that Enigma Labs was invited to attend; and also that the U.S. Defense Department's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) would be partnering with Enigma Labs to evaluate Enigma's "...application, data stream and filtering capabilities..."
Andresen expresses concern about lack of privacy aspects of Enigma's input processes when collecting data on global UAP sightings; whilst the company remains silent on who runs Enigma.
"Conflating Data with Knowledge" continues the theme of the use of data mining of large databases by providing details of the activities of Enigma Labs, UPDB; PhenomAInon, To The Stars, and the Capella data warehouse, generated by the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP.)
"Conflating the Business of National Security with Genuine National Security and Actual Safety." Here Andresen states her position that she does not think a datacentric approach to UAP is useful:
"A datacentric approach reduces what is a relational issue between humankind and ETI to the process of 'collecting.'"
She does not accept the premise that data collection will help "...forge a constructive relationship with the ETI operating in our midst." We should be focusing on "...creative ways to communicate...the ET is trying to help."
She again expresses concern that the U.S. government is collecting UAP reports from civilians on a global basis via such pathways as via Enigma Labs and AARO.
"On Conflating Prediction with Wisdom." Andresen reinforces her message that collecting data on UAP could lead to attempts to shoot down UAP, bait UAP, or exploit UAP technology, and that this is the wrong approach. The correct way, in her opinion is:
"To obtain wisdom, we must learn to participate with one another in both in intraspecies and interspecies contexts...Instead of conflating, we must...participate with the magnanimous ETI, in our midst now."
Hyperconvergence- broad themes
In the second of her books, Andresen takes a look at a number of themes including:
1. The search for the secret of UAP technology versus Andresen's approach which would:
"...focus on creative acculturation with ETI rather than on extraterrestrial technology. That is because if extraterrestrial tech is weaponized, it could wipe out our species."
2. The three groups of people involved in the unfolding of the UAP narrative, namely the U.S. National Security establishment: a supranational elite group of wealthy and connected individuals interested in UAP tech; and thirdly the intelligence services of other countries.
In exploring these broad themes, Andresen covers a lot of ground including:
* An extensive analysis of the activities of whistleblower David Grusch, and long-term researcher Steven Greer. Andresen lists Grusch as:
"Propagating a non-human intelligence (NHI) threat narrative; while Greer articulates his very specific variant of the benevolent extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) narrative."
* UAP related aspects of the National Defense Authorization Act 2024. Andresen does not support this legislation, suggesting that providing access to USG crash retrieval programs would potentially lead to espionage leaks to foreign entities.
* Andreen's own belief that the ETH is the best explanation for UAP. Not interdimensional or demons, but simply Extraterrestrial visitors.
* The work and ideas of such researchers as John Keel; Jacques Vallee; Hal Puthoff and David J. Bohm.
* An examination of the concept of "demons" and how this relates to the topic of UAP.
* The long-term UAP interests of such wealthy individuals as Robert Bigelow and Hans Adam II.
* An exploration of the available public information on the SOL Foundation.
* The potential for the use of the UAP "threat narrative" to be used to seek more money for the U.S. military space weapons. Andersen has written elsewhere about her desire to seek the demilitarization of space.
* Aspects of religious beliefs including views on the potential extinction of the human race; apocalyptic thinking and eschatology.
* Andersen's view that:
"The fastest possible way to make the world ready for extraterrestrial technology...is to reduce and ultimately eliminate violence in our own species..."
In summary
I found these two books to be a very useful summary of the status of UAP research today; its various perspectives and provided much food for thought. In addition, Andresen's research added to my own knowledge of the background to Enigma Labs Inc. and the SOL Foundation.
For a video interview of Dr. Andresen discussing the work in both books, please click here.
