Society for Scientific Exploration

The Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE) is a United States-based organization founded in 1982 to encourage investigation of phenomena and questions that it considers insufficiently examined by conventional scientific institutions. Its scope has included ufology, parapsychology, cryptozoology, dowsing, anomalous cognition, astrology, consciousness, reincarnation, and other subjects commonly described as fringe or anomalous science. The society presents itself as a forum for open-minded but critical inquiry, while critics argue that its activities and publications give undue legitimacy to claims that lack reliable support within mainstream science. The SSE held its first meeting at the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1982. Its principal publication is the Journal of Scientific Exploration (JSE), a peer-reviewed journal established to publish research articles, essays, reviews, and correspondence concerning anomalies and topics that are often absent from conventional scientific journals. The journal has covered areas such as unidentified flying objects, extraterrestrial claims, parapsychology, psychokinesis, extrasensory perception, dowsing, and other disputed phenomena. It has been indexed or abstracted by a number of bibliographic services, including EBSCO, Scopus for a period of time, WorldCat, Scimago, Publons, Naver, and other databases. The journal has also been listed among open-access journals by the Directory of Open Access Journals. The society's activities have centered on conferences, special-interest discussions, and publication. It holds an annual meeting in the United States, generally in the spring, and has also organized periodic meetings in Europe. Meetings have brought together researchers from conventional academic fields as well as investigators whose work focuses on unusual or controversial claims. Topics reported at these events have included consciousness, physics, astrology, parapsychology, and unidentified aerial phenomena. The organization has described respectful consideration of competing views as part of its purpose, while also acknowledging that presentations may be criticized when their methods or evidence are considered weak. A notable event associated with the society was a 1998 panel concerning UFO reports. The panel was presented in contemporary reporting as an independent scientific review of UFO cases, and it examined cases including the Cash-Landrum incident, the Trans-en-Provence case, and the Aurora, Texas incident. Skeptics criticized the panel for allegedly favoring researchers sympathetic to UFO claims and for not including an equivalent representation of skeptical investigators. This episode illustrates the broader dispute surrounding the SSE: supporters view it as a venue for topics neglected by established institutions, whereas critics see its journal and conferences as mechanisms for institutionalizing or promoting pseudoscientific ideas. The society has included academics and researchers with backgrounds in astronomy, physics, psychology, engineering, and other disciplines. Historical leadership mentioned in reference material includes astronomer Charles Tolbert as president in 2005, Henry Bauer as editor of the journal in that period, and Peter A. Sturrock, Larry Frederick, and Charles Tolbert as leaders emeriti in 2008. Stephen E. Braude has been identified as an editor of the Journal of Scientific Exploration. Current corporate, executive, and editorial information is not established by the supplied sources. The SSE remains best understood as a membership and publishing organization focused on anomalous phenomena rather than as a consumer product brand or commercial corporation.

The Society for Scientific Exploration was founded in 1982 in the United States, with its first meeting held at the University of Maryland, College Park. It emerged as a forum for scientists and researchers interested in phenomena that established academic institutions and journals often treated as marginal, unreliable, or outside the accepted boundaries of scientific inquiry. The society's remit has included unidentified flying objects, parapsychology, extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, cryptozoology, dowsing, astrology, anomalous cognition, consciousness, reincarnation, and related subjects. A central part of the SSE's identity is its effort to apply organized research and scholarly discussion to disputed topics. It established the Journal of Scientific Exploration as a peer-reviewed publication containing research papers, essays, book reviews, and letters. The journal's subject matter has included anomalous phenomena in both psychological and extraterrestrial fields. Its indexing history has included services such as EBSCO, WorldCat, Scimago, Publons, Naver, and Scopus for a period ending in 2018. The existence of peer review and bibliographic indexing has helped the journal present itself as a scholarly venue, although these features have not resolved disputes over the quality of the underlying evidence or the validity of the topics studied. The society has organized annual meetings in the United States and periodic events in Europe. Accounts of its meetings describe participation by researchers with conventional university affiliations alongside investigators committed to controversial hypotheses. A 2005 United States meeting reportedly attracted about one hundred researchers and included presentations on consciousness, physics, astrology, and parapsychology. The organization has been described as seeking to hear competing views respectfully, while maintaining that weak research should be criticized. This self-description contrasts with the assessment of skeptical writers, who argue that the SSE tends to frame unsupported claims as unresolved scientific mysteries and gives insufficient attention to negative evidence. The most prominent controversy in the supplied historical material concerns a 1998 UFO panel. Contemporary reporting described the event as an independent scientific review of UFO phenomena. The panel considered cases such as the Cash-Landrum incident, the Trans-en-Provence case, and the Aurora, Texas UFO incident. Skeptical commentators argued that the panel was predisposed toward accepting UFO claims because it included advocates but not an equivalent number of skeptical specialists, and because the cases reviewed had already failed to persuade mainstream investigators. The dispute did not produce a generally accepted scientific resolution, but it became an example of the wider criticism directed at the society and its journal. Historical leadership included Charles Tolbert, an astronomer associated with the University of Virginia, who was identified as president in 2005. Henry Bauer, a dean emeritus of Virginia Tech, was identified as the journal's editor at that time. Peter A. Sturrock of Stanford University and Larry Frederick and Charles Tolbert of the University of Virginia were identified as leaders emeriti in 2008. Stephen E. Braude has been identified as an editor of the Journal of Scientific Exploration. The supplied references do not establish a current list of officers, a precise headquarters, membership size, budget, or corporate ownership. The SSE is therefore best categorized as a nonprofit-style scholarly and membership society whose public profile is defined by its support for research into anomalous phenomena and by continuing criticism from mainstream scientists and skeptics.

• 2018

  Scopus indexing discontinued

  [1]Society for Scientific Explorationen.wikipedia.org

  The Journal of Scientific Exploration was reported as indexed by Scopus through 2018, after which Scopus coverage ended.

• 2005

  Annual meeting reported with approximately one hundred researchers

  [1]Society for Scientific Explorationen.wikipedia.org

  A United States annual meeting reportedly brought together around one hundred researchers for presentations on consciousness, physics, astrology, and parapsychology.

• 1998

  International UFO review panel reported

  [1]Society for Scientific Explorationen.wikipedia.org

  An international panel associated with the society reviewed selected UFO cases, prompting criticism over its alleged imbalance toward pro-UFO interpretations.

• 1982

  Society founded

  [1]Society for Scientific Explorationen.wikipedia.org

  The Society for Scientific Exploration was established in the United States, and its first meeting took place at the University of Maryland, College Park.

An alternative scientific forum for investigating anomalous phenomena and questions outside the usual scope of mainstream research institutions. The society emphasizes openness to unconventional hypotheses and critical discussion, but is frequently characterized by skeptics as an organization that lends academic credibility to pseudoscientific claims.

• Scholarly journal

  Journal of Scientific Exploration

  The society's principal publication is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to anomalous and controversial scientific subjects. It publishes research articles, essays, reviews, and letters concerning areas such as ufology, parapsychology, cryptozoology, dowsing, consciousness, and other questions commonly neglected by mainstream journals. It has been indexed or abstracted by several bibliographic services, although its coverage in Scopus ended after 2018.

• Conference and membership event

  Annual meetings

  The SSE organizes an annual meeting in the United States, generally during the spring. These events provide presentations and discussion on anomalous phenomena and unconventional scientific hypotheses, bringing together academics, independent researchers, and critics of established scientific boundaries.

• Conference and membership event

  European meetings

  In addition to its United States meeting, the society has held periodic meetings in Europe. The supplied sources do not specify a fixed schedule, venues, or current operating arrangements.

• 1998

  Criticism of the 1998 UFO panel

  Skeptics criticized an international UFO review panel associated with the society, arguing that its participants were disproportionately sympathetic to UFO claims and that the cases considered had not persuaded mainstream investigators. The criticism concerned scientific balance and evidentiary standards rather than a proven legal or financial scandal.

  Source

• Criticism that the society promotes pseudoscience

  Skeptical writers and philosophers of science have characterized the society and its journal as outlets that give academic credibility to claims involving paranormal activity, dowsing, astrology, reincarnation, UFOs, and related subjects. They argue that contrary evidence is often underweighted and that scholarly language can make weak claims appear scientifically established.

  Source

Read more

• 1982

  Create a dedicated forum for anomalous researchStrategy

  Background

  Many subjects of interest to the society were treated as outside the scope of conventional scientific journals or institutions.

  Action taken

  The organization was formed to support meetings, membership exchange, and research discussion concerning anomalous and fringe scientific topics.

  Aftermath

  The SSE developed an enduring identity as an alternative research society, attracting both researchers interested in unconventional hypotheses and sustained criticism from skeptics.

  Source

• Publish a peer-reviewed journalStrategy

  Background

  The society sought a formal scholarly channel for research into ufology, parapsychology, cryptozoology, and other anomalous subjects.

  Action taken

  It established the Journal of Scientific Exploration as a publication for research papers, essays, reviews, and correspondence.

  Aftermath

  The journal became the society's principal public scholarly outlet, while skeptics disputed whether its publication practices and subject selection supported pseudoscientific conclusions.

  Source

1. 1Society for Scientific Explorationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Society for Scientific Exploration official websitescientificexploration.org