White House Establishes UAP Science Advisory Council Led by Harvard’s Avi Loeb
Date: 2026-07-03
Featured image: [Photograph of Avi Loeb at a press conference; credit: Harvard University]
The White House has approved a new UAP Science Advisory Council tasked with bringing rigorous scientific methodology to the study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. The council, chaired by Harvard theoretical physicist Avi Loeb, will advise the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and a newly established UAP Governance Board.
Announced June 13, the council comprises scientists and researchers from fields including astrophysics, oceanography, psychology, data science, and materials analysis. Its dual mandate covers national security, determining whether UAPs near sensitive military sites represent adversarial technologies, and scientific discovery, with Loeb describing the potential of non-human origins as “the biggest scientific discovery ever made by humanity.”
Diverse Expertise Across Disciplines
The council’s roster spans 12 to 16 members, including Stanford professor Garry Nolan (molecular biology and materials science), Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet (ret.), former acting NOAA administrator (oceanography), and Dr. Michael Shermer, founder of Skeptic magazine. Other members bring expertise in AI-driven data analysis, instrumentation, quantitative psychology, and anthropology.
“The council emphasizes collecting higher-quality scientific data over relitigating old cases,” Loeb wrote in the announcement. “We need better sensors and better analysis.”
Members will analyze open-source archival materials including Pentagon-released videos and photos, develop improved sensor and AI tools, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. The council reports to ODNI and the classified UAP Governance Board, an interagency body that held its first meeting June 17.
Context Amid Growing Transparency Efforts
The council follows President Trump’s February 2026 directive to declassify UAP files, which led to the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) program. PURSUE has released three batches totaling approximately 300 records, and its portal has received over 1.7 billion views.
The council builds on previous government efforts including AARO, which reported in June 2026 that roughly 40 percent of 757-plus reported phenomena remain unexplained. It also follows methodological recommendations from NASA’s 2023 UAP study, which called for calibrated sensors, multiple measurements, and reduced stigma.
“The council sits at the intersection of two important trends,” said Gallaudet. “The government’s growing willingness to take these reports seriously, and the scientific community’s recognition that we have not applied our best tools to this question.”
Skepticism From Within and Without
Even as the council positions itself as a science-first body, it has drawn criticism. Astrophysicist Steve Desch of Arizona State University told the Associated Press: “I don’t know what’s going to come of this, but we’re not going to get any closer to answering these questions with him in charge.”
Sean Kirkpatrick, former director of AARO, said Loeb is “not viewed favorably” by much of the scientific community and lacks national security experience. An analysis by New Space Economy warned the council risks “personality-driven spectacle outpacing evidence.”
Notably, the council includes its own internal skeptic. Shermer, whose career has been devoted to debunking paranormal claims, said the committee is “more open” to exotic possibilities such as space-time bubbles and multi-dimensional beings, but added: “None of that is going to pan out.”
The council has no dedicated budget beyond travel reimbursement and no direct access to classified material. Its initial findings are expected within the next year, with a public website and peer-reviewed publications planned.
Draft for 1ban.news – Space Desk