UFOs and UAPs: The Latest Tech to Detect What’s in Our Skies
- College of Engineering
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
UFOs and UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) have captured the world’s imagination for decades. Renewed attention came in 2021 when the U.S. Intelligence community released its first public UFO report. Despite stating that there is no credible evidence for alien-originating craft, the U.S. government admitted there are objects unknown to us in the atmosphere—foreign government spy balloons, unregistered drones, and other earth-based tech that traditional radar has trouble finding and identifying. NASA and the Department of Defense have created units dedicated to new technologies for detecting what’s in our skies.
Travis S. Taylor has doctorates in Optical Science and Engineering and in Aerospace Systems Engineering; and master’s degrees in Physics and Aerospace Engineering—all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also has a master’s degree in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney (Australia) and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University (Alabama). Dr. Taylor worked in various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for more than 20 years. His projects included advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next-generation space launch concepts.
Dr. Taylor was the chief scientist on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force 2020-2021 (now the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in the Defense Department) and now works for Radiance Technologies.
Dr. Taylor has written 19 science fiction novels, two textbooks, and more than a dozen technical papers. Dr. Taylor has appeared and starred in several television programs including the History Channel’s The Universe and Life After People, National Geographic Channel’s hit shows Rocket City Rednecks and When Aliens Attack, The Weather Channel’s 3 Scientists Walk Into a Bar, and History Channel's Ancient Aliens, UneXplained, and hit series The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.
This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.