Peter Sturrock

The astrophysicist who made a substantial effort toward the serious scientific study of UFOs

Name	Peter Andrew Sturrock
Age	100
Born	March 20, 1924
Died	August 12, 2024
Famous for	Organizing a scientific workshop that reviews the physical evidence in UFO reports

Peter Sturrock was highly respected in the scientific community, with numerous contributions and awards across astrophysics, plasma physics, and solar physics.

This accolade allowed him to face virtually no backlash when he advocated for the rigorous scientific study of the UFO phenomenon, in contrast to several of his colleagues, who had been ridiculed for the same reason since the 1950s.

Who Was Peter Sturrock?

Family Life

Peter Sturrock was born to Albert Edward and Mabel Minnie Sturrock and grew up in South Stifford, England.

He was married twice—first to Betty Murray for 10 years, and then to Marilyn Stenson for 40 years until her passing in 2006—and had two children.

Education and Career

Sturrock had an illustrious scientific background, more than anyone we’ve written about so far in UFO Connect. Here’s a timeline of his career trajectory:

During his career, he invented many devices, including the fast-wave microwave tube, which led to the development of free-electron lasers that are “now being used in scientific research, medical treatments, and industrial applications.”

He had also written several papers, published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration.

How Did Peter Sturrock Become Interested in UFOs?

Peter Sturrock’s interest in UFOs began when he met and worked with Jacques Vallée sometime in the 1970s for a research project. Vallée had already written several books about UFOs at the time, and, as a colleague, Sturrock felt professionally obligated to read them. Vallée’s research and theories intrigued him and prompted him to learn more about this phenomenon.

But what made him really invested in UFOs stemmed from the Condon Report. He thought that the results the Colorado Committee presented contradicted the evidence under study. This evidence, he believed, showed that something unknown was at work and needed further scrutiny.

What Did Peter Sturrock Do in His Pursuit of UFO Study?

Peter Sturrock became known for his pursuit of Ufology when he did these three things:

• Conducted a survey of his colleagues from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) on their stance on the UFO phenomenon.
• Established the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE) to provide a safe space for colleagues to scientifically study unconventional topics, like UFOs and the paranormal.
• Organized a scientific workshop to review the physical evidence related to UFO reports.

The AIAA and AAS Survey

In their public statements (but not necessarily in their private statements, scientists express a generally negative attitude towards the UFO problem, and it is interesting to try to understand this attitude. Most scientists have never had the occasion to confront evidence concerning the UFO phenomenon.

Sturrock wanted to determine whether scientists show the same concerns and experiences as civilian eyewitnesses.

With the AIAA

His first survey was conducted with the AIAA San Francisco Chapter. Of its 1,175 members, 423 (36%) responded to the questionnaire he mailed on April 9, 1973. 

One significant question he asked was whether they see UFOs as a scientifically significant phenomenon. The majority answered that it was “possible or probable”; some deemed it “impossible”; and only a handful said, “certain.”

If interested, you can read Sturrock’s report on the AIAA survey results on Patrick Gross’s website.

With the AAS

His second, much larger survey with the AAS members was conducted in 1975. Of the 2,611 questionnaires he mailed, 1,356 (52%) responded. 

Like with AIAA, he also asked them whether UFOs deserve scientific study. The majority (80%) responded positively, indicating a more open-minded stance.

If interested, you can read the AAS’s survey results on UFO Evidence’s website.

The Society for Scientific Exploration

Sturrock, along with other respected scientists and scholars, founded the SSE because he believed it was important to study phenomena that the scientific community had ignored due to their bizarre nature, including UFOs. If science could prove that these exist, it could “challenge some of the established scientific beliefs.”

He also saw the necessity for peer reviews, leading to the creation of a scientific journal publication where SSE members could:

• Share the progress of their studies into these anomalies.
• Receive multiple viewpoints on the topic from interested readers.

The Scientific Workshop

The definitive resolution of the UFO enigma will not come about unless and until the problem is subjected to open and extensive scientific study by the normal procedures of established science and administrators in universities.

Sturrock wanted to help scientists understand the facts of the UFO problem (to achieve a full resolution), and he believed the first step was to determine the reality of the physical evidence associated with UFO reports.

So, with the generous support from philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller, he organized a scientific workshop from September 29 to October 3, 1997, at the Pocantico Conference Center in Tarrytown, New York.

Here, eight UFO researchers presented strong evidence and research before the nine-member panel, who came to this workshop with an open mind.

We are fortunate that Sturrock decided to distill the proceedings of this workshop in his book entitled The UFO Enigma: A New Review of the Physical Evidence, allowing future generations to learn what they had discussed and decided, which included:

• The UFO problem isn’t simple, and it doesn’t have a single, universal solution.
• Scientists can learn something new from every new unexplained observation.
• Scientists should prioritize UFO cases with genuine physical evidence.

What Legacy Did Peter Sturrock Leave in Ufology?

Peter Sturrock’s legacy in ufology lies in elevating the field to a serious scientific endeavor. Drawing on his distinguished reputation, he championed rigorous, data‑driven study of UFOs—using systematic analysis of physical evidence and peer‑reviewed research—so they could be investigated with the same care as mainstream science.

Because of this, future researchers can:

• Examine the UFO phenomenon without the usual stigma
• Share and evaluate their findings openly, moving us closer to resolving the UFO mystery

Want to explore this legacy further and connect with others who take UFO research seriously? Visit the UFO Connect website today to dive into resources, discussions, and tools for evidence-based ufology.

FAQ

Why was looking at the facts important in UFO studies for Peter Sturrock?

Sturrock believed that knowing the facts and what they’re trying to tell us would “lead us to a firm conclusion”⁶ of this UFO problem, whether that may be something mundane or truly originated from outer space.

What can scientific researchers get from Peter Sturrock’s book, UFO Enigma?

The UFO Enigma enables scientific researchers to become more critical in conducting their independent UFO investigations, especially in how they evaluate evidence and test hypotheses.

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