"It is of great importance that the general public be  given
an  opportunity to experience - consciously and  intelligently  -
the  effects  and  results of scientific  research.   It  is  not
sufficient that each result be taken up, elaborated, and  applied
by  a  few specialists in their field.  Restricting the  body  of
knowledge to a small group deadens the philosophical spirit of  a
people and leads to spiritual poverty."   --Albert Einstein

                         What is MICAP?

MICAP  is  the  acronym  for  the  Multi-national  Investigations
Cooperative on Aerial Phenomena, a new international organization
dedicated  to promoting focused, responsible scientific  research
on  unidentified  aerial anomalies.   This  announcement  briefly
outlines  MICAP's goals and long-range plans.  Founded  in  1991,
MICAP  is an outgrowth of the world-renowed  ParaNet  Information
Service,  an  international electronic news-gathering  and  news-
distribution network.  For five years ParaNet has provided a link
between  UFO  "hobbyists"  and the  world's  leading  UFOlogists.
Additionally,  ParaNet  has become an invaluable  research  tool,
unparalleled anywhere else. Now MICAP has been founded to enhance
and  coordinate the research efforts already being carried on  in
this  field by investigators and organizations around the  world.
Over the last forty years, a great deal of UFO research has  been
conducted  at the local level by independent  UFO  organizations,
and  there have been occasional attempts to bring  these  efforts
together  on  the national level both in the  United  States  and
elsewhere.  However, in all that time far too little progress has
been made toward gaining an understanding of what these anomalies
represent -- in part because the UFO problem is global in nature.
There  has also been far too much rivalry among the  various  UFO
organizations, which has often resulted in duplication of effort,
monumental  egotism, and all the other ills for which UFOlogy  is
just infamous.  Clearly there is a need for a cooperative, global
effort directed toward UFO research.  MICAP is designed to answer
that  need.   MICAP is not a UFO club. It is  a  scientific-based
organization  founded on scientific methodology, and is  intended
solely   for  discovering  facts  rather  than  for   propagating
religious, philosophical, or political convictions.  We are under
no  illusion  that we already know the answers; the  first  step,
indeed,  is  to  achieve  a  better  understanding  of  what  the
questions are.  Furthermore, MICAP is not intended to replace  or
compete with existing UFO organizations.  Rather, its goal is  to
establish   cooperative   working   relationships   with    other
organizations   in   order  to  help  them  achieve   a   greater
understanding  of  the complexity of the UFO  enigma.   MICAP  is
designed to function as the "United Nations" of the UFO  research
community  and  it's goals will be pursued  by  four  strategies:
standards-based scientific investigation; global data collection;
public education; and active, trained membership.

Standards-based Scientific Investigation

MICAP will work with the scientific community to establish  sound
and accepted principles and standards by which the UFO phenomenon
can   be  investigated;  these  will  be  designed   by   veteran
investigators  within UFOlogy and by responsible scientists  from
other  disciplines.   Every effort will be made  to  assure  that
collected data is of the highest quality, and field investigators
will be selected and trained using the most stringent practicable
criteria.   In  addition,  formal oversight  committees  will  be
formed  to  assure compliance with investigatory  standards,  and
will  be staffed by representatives of existing  research  groups
which  are affiliated with MICAP.  These measures will, we  hope,
allow  MICAP  to  bridge the gap that  currently  exists  between
scientific UFOlogy and the rest of the scientific community.

Global Data Collection

One of MICAP's first efforts will include the establishment of  a
central clearinghouse for data culled from independent local  and
international sources.  This information will then be combined in
a  global computer database which can be accessed  by  authorized
researchers from around the world.

Public Education

The  public  often has a gross misunderstanding of what  the  UFO
phenomenon represents, based on media hype, rank speculation, and
deliberate  disinformation.   MICAP will strive  to  replace  the
mythology  surrounding  UFOs  with  verifiable  facts  based   on
scientific  investigation.   This will  be  accomplished  through
positive  and aggressive public education in the media,   through
its  own publications, and through classroom curricula  developed
in conjunction with professional educators.

Active, Trained Membership

For its membership, MICAP is seeking concerned men and women from
around  the world who are seriously interested in  unlocking  the
secrets  behind  the UFO phenomenon.  MICAP members,  unlike  any
other UFO organizations, will play active roles in the pursuit of
organizational  goals;  they  are not restricted  simply  to  the
financial  support of the organization.  Instead, they will  have
the opportunity to actively participate in the investigation  and
collection  of  data  if they wish.  Members  will  benefit  from
MICAP's  educational efforts, as well as access to  the  largest,
most sophisticated network of UFO investigators in the world.  In
order  to  assure  that  all  members  are  serious  about  their
involvement and well qualified in the areas to which they wish to
contribute, membership is by application only.

Other benefits for MICAP members:


a subscription  to CONTINUUM, ParaNet's official quarterly newsletter.
Discounts to MICAP Special Events
Bulletin Board/ParaNet Access
Opportunity to meet top experts/researchers in the field
Education for Field Investigators
Workshops/Seminars/Discussion Groups
Networking
Public Education
Subscription to CONTINUUM Newsletter
Discount subscription to UFO Magazine

For More Information

To receive additional information on MICAP or an application  for
MICAP membership, write to:

                              MICAP
                          P.O. Box 172
                   Wheat Ridge, CO  80034-0172
                       303-429-2654 voice
                        303-429-2713 data
                        303-933-7179 data


                              MICAP
                          P.O. Box 172
                   Wheat Ridge, CO  80034-0172
                          303-429-2654