From the Abstract The topic of UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena), previously referred as UFOs, has often been dismissed by members of the academy. Those that have studied it have found the subject stigmatized, as a result of boundary work, a rhetorical strategy used particularly in the natural sciences to define the bounds of legitimate research and knowledge production. Nevertheless, recent events, media coverage, and government hearings haveprompted more members of the academy to openly show interest in researching of this controversial topic. This study included in-depth interviews with tenure-track faculty and scientists in private research organizations that have openly studied UAPin their research. The participants ranged across the physical sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. The goal of the study was to understand the nature of the stigma the participants encountered, how it developed, the ways in which it has been maintained, and to track whether participants colleague’s responses have changed over time to their research interests. The findings also include how the UAP/UFO subject is a relevant case study of on-going explicit boundary work, done by members of the academy,as well as implicit boundary work, accomplished through socialization, via the media, and via the government. These conclusions are not just historical, but the effects were changing in real time while this study was being conducted. This work has implications for future study of the boundary between legitimate vs. fringe science, the independent nature of research, understanding of stigma and taboos, as well as the relationship between authorities and government influence over the academy, all of which apply beyond the UAP subject. submitted by /u/toxictoy [link] [comments]