IFEX UAP & SETI Conference 2025
17. - 19. September 2025, Würzburg | Germany
The documentation of sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFO) or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), as they are referred to in the current literature, is a phenomenon that has been documented for a long time. Although the majority of these observations can be explained by known phenomena or objects such as airplanes, drones, weather phenomena or spacecraft, a small proportion still lacks a clear and comprehensible explanation. This is precisely where the potential lies to actually discover something new and possibly very significant for science and society. Due to a strong stigma in the past, which can be traced back to a variety of reasons, the topic has so far received little attention in science. However, there is currently a noticeable tendency towards a change in this situation, which is manifested in an increasing discussion of this topic in reputable academic circles and in systematic investigations.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is also gaining in importance in the context of various developments. This development is due, among other things, to the discovery of an increasing number of exoplanets in habitable zones, technological advances in the search for traces of life in space, and insights into the robustness of life under adverse conditions. It is likely that the discovery of life beyond Earth will happen in the near future. However, this will not be without consequences for humanity, especially with regard to the question of intelligent life and the consequences for humans.
The Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies (IFEX) at the University of Würzburg has set itself the goal of researching both topics, UAP and SETI, using scientific methods and visibly advancing them at the academic and institutional level. In this context, this year's IFEX conference will cover both topics, SETI and UAP, and contribute to them. Due to the highly interdisciplinary aspects of both topics, they will be considered and discussed from a wide variety of perspectives. The topics to be discussed include highly developed technical methods for obtaining instrumental data such as detection, observation and analysis, hypothesis and theory formation, as well as consequence analysis and recommendations for action for various possible scenarios. The interdisciplinary aspect is emphasized not only by the technical and scientific aspects but also by the inclusion of psychological, legal, ethical, life science, political and sociological implications. These aspects are represented not only by the speakers at the workshop but also by permanent experts within the IFEX. The international conference offers a broad platform for a comprehensive and future-oriented scientific discussion of the topics, which could prove to be very significant for science and society as a whole.
The event is open to the university public with invited guests and media representatives and will be held in hybrid form. The venue at the Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg will be announced in a timely manner.
Conference President and Chairman of the Board of IFEX
Professor Dr. -Ing. Hakan Kayal
14. April 2025
