Extraterrestrial First Contact: Social Science Expertise versus the Physical Sciences

Scientists from the physical sciences: astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology, are on the front lines of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The reason is simple- scientific methods of observation and analysis are the primary way we can discover the existence of an extraterrestrial civilization, if such a civilization exists at all. Physical science experts are the best prepared for the hard work that would be required in a First Contact situation if the aliens we discover are at a great distance. Physicists have the tools and skills to examine signals in the electromagnetic spectrum. There are certainly social science crossovers that may be needed in such a situation: linguists to study signals for possible language and anthropologists to try and understand the practices of another civilization. However, in most of the scenarios scientists are currently considering, physical science experts lead the way.

This blog is concerned with a very different situation. I have a singular purpose- to reflect on the needs of humanity if we are faced with high information Direct First Contact, where the aliens are visiting our solar system and have done their homework. My premise is that they understand our civilization and have learned how to best communicate with us.

If the aliens did fit that criteria, it would be a very different group of humans at the front lines of a First Contact event. The leaders of governments and institutions would be the first responders and they would need support from social science experts in fields such as international relations, psychology, religion, and sociology. The primary issues involved in such a scenario would be human communication, consensus-building, and decision-making. Humans would need to organize themselves to respond to the alien overture. Such an event would likely create incredible challenges for our human society. Social scientists could provide the expertise, and do the research necessary, to support those governmental and institutional leaders in that time of immense change. The biggest threat in such a situation could be to the social fabric of humanity. In addition to the immediate concerns of the safety and welfare of humans, there would also be the long-term considerations of the scientific, economic, and social impact to the human race. In our fictional explorations of such themes, we humans tend to oversimplify these considerations. In reality, First Contact response would likely be a massive effort with many thousands of details to work out.

Very few humans are thinking about this type of Direct First Contact. I understand why- it is unlikely to happen. This blog, then, is simply a deep dive into a tiny sliver of possibility. It is my attempt at preparation, just in case. My expertise is in communication, a social science. While I am not a scientist, I have spent my career examining communication from a number of different perspectives, including as a journalist, public relations professional, and college instructor.

If Direct First Contact does occur someday, and the aliens want to have some sort of a relationship with humans, I hope that these writings will bring potential social challenges to light and provide an initial road map for human response.

Photo by Kipras Štreimikis on Unsplash

Who Reads This Blog?

You, my reading friends, are a very small group. This blog is a bit odd and I think it tends to alienate (pun fully intended) the two largest groups of potential readers. The UFO community doesn’t seem to like it much, primarily because I don’t believe that there is any evidence that aliens have visited, or are visiting Earth. I think that what is being currently presented as evidence is not real evidence. The scientific community, for whom I have immense respect for their efforts and incredible achievements, tends to shy away from this blog because of my focus on Direct First Contact, which is arguably the least likely form of First Contact, should it ever occur.

That’s fine. I don’t mind chatting with a small group. I am fascinated by a few things about you, the readers. First, you are an international group. From the time I installed Google analytics on the blog, a few years ago; it has received hits from 112 different nations. Most readers are in the United States and Europe. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Poland, Germany, Finland, India, Brazil and Ireland make up the top ten nations. And this part is perhaps the most interesting to me: China, the most populous nation on the Earth, has exactly one page view, out of Shanghai, in all of those years. Are the Chinese just not interested in this subject? Or perhaps they are blocked from being able to search about this subject? I’m not sure why the Chinese government would care enough to block viewing. Who knows? Interesting, though.

A few locations stand out as regular readers: Hello Rohnert Park, California, Lambeth, England and lately Stuttgart, Germany. And also a shout out to long-time readers in Georgia and Utah. I thank all of you for taking the time to read and I encourage you to chime in on the comments. They are open to everyone. 

Welcome.

No Conspiracy Here

There is a basic difference between this blog and much of what you will find regarding this subject on the Internet. I do not believe that extraterrestrials have been in contact with anyone on Earth thus far. I do not believe stories of Alien abduction. Regarding UFOs, there is always a chance that some extraterrestrial craft may have been spotted in the Earth atmosphere, but I think for the most part UFOs are a natural or manmade phenomenon.

There is no evidence that there is any extraterrestrial civilization in the universe. We could be quite alone. Science and logic tells us that even if there are other sentient beings in the universe, the chances of them being able to travel here to say hello are rather minute.

So why do I even bother writing all of this?

Well, first of all it’s fun. I love “what ifs” and this is one of the biggest “what ifs” of all. I take one simple premise and try to figure out what might happen. The premise is that extraterrestrials, who have never contacted anyone on Earth previously, decide that now is the time for Direct First Contact. How would they realistically do it? How would we react? What are the dangers? What would the future hold for us as a civilization?

Direct First Contact of this type is not a question of science. It is a question of communication. I have no scientific expertise. I am trained as a communicator. What you read in this blog comes from a communications perspective. I grew up in a scientific household. I understand how much scientists resent wild speculation with no basis in fact, and no respect for the scientific process. I also know that scientists often enjoy science fiction, they love the “what ifs”. This blog is basically science fiction, just without the drama and characters.

I must correct myself here. When I say that First Contact is not a question of science, I mean the action is not a question of the physical sciences. First Contact does have everything to do with the social sciences. Communication theory, politics, history and sociology all play a part. Psychology is another scientific field that has close correlation to First Contact. The physical sciences will be hugely changed by First Contact, but it is the social sciences that will come into play first. First Contact is simply a study of how the introduction between extraterrestrials and humans might occur and the profound reactions it would cause in human civilization.

I believe that First Contact should not occur between extraterrestrials and any national government on Earth. First Contact needs to be the start of a conversation between extraterrestrial beings and all humans. It needs to be a hello for the entire world. Ultimately some group will need to coordinate the continuing conversation and that needs to be the United Nations. It is a weak body that needs much improvement, but it is the only group that comes close to representing the entire planet.

Modern systems of communication can be leveraged to achieve First Contact. We have the technology and information networks in place currently. The proposal I make regarding First Contact utilizes the actions and reactions that automatically occur each and every day in the communications systems on this planet. The interconnected media is a powerful tool. If used correctly it can provide a quick and effective means of First Contact. You’ll find a link to the entire proposal on the right hand side of the screen.

I could be very wrong. Perhaps there is some vast Alien conspiracy involving secret government contact that has been hidden from us for many years. However the realities of human interaction cause me to very much doubt that such conspiracies could be maintained for a week, or a month, let alone years.

First Contact would not be easy. It must be done quickly, effectively and lead us down a positive path of new understanding. Every relationship starts with an introduction. This blog is about that big hello.

Who I am and why I write about First Contact

There’s quite a range of people who write about this subject. One side of the spectrum is dominated by those worried about government conspiracy and alien atrocities. The other end rests firmly in science, with those who discuss the practical applications of SETI and discovering new worlds through radio telescopes, like the new Allen Telescope Array operated by the University of California, Berkeley.

I intend to explore only a very narrow slice of the spectrum. I have always been fascinated with what real people do when confronted with extraordinary situations. I’ve spent years wondering how people would react to First Contact from an extraterrestrial civilization. From that question naturally came the speculation of how First Contact might take place. There are many different ways First Contact might occur, some of which humans may have never even considered. I concern myself with only one scenario. It assumes that representatives of an extraterrestrial civilization have been watching us for some time and have been debating when to make contact. My scenario sets forth a number of circumstances that would cause them to want to make contact with humans now. These include, on the positive side: a nearly instantaneous global communication system; a shared network of knowledge accessible to most humans; a form of world government with representatives from most nations; relative world stability; and a host nation with the practical necessities to make First Contact a success. The negative side is the aspect that inspires the most alarm. You could imagine that if we have been under observation for some time, extraterrestrial analysts might be quite concerned about our environment. They also might be wary of our world economy and our reliance on fossil fuels. Is the planet Earth about to be tossed into a new dark age, sending our civilization spiraling and setting our sciences back hundreds of years? It has happened before and there are many warning signs right now.

So, this is what the blog takes into account. It is a narrow sliver. It assumes much.

I believe that the best process of First Contact can be achieved by a swift lifting of the veil. I also think the broadcast news media is an ideal tool to be leveraged in this effort. It provides the opportunity to reach the entire globe in a short amount of time. It side steps contact with individual governments and makes the welcome one for the entire planet. Why is this important? First Contact means that humans must gain a new perspective. We must think of ourselves as one world united by common biology and common needs. Any First Contact with one federal government or another will be met with distrust by the rest of the world. First Contact must be quick, it must be a welcome for the entire world, and it must be seen by the entire world. It is a collective moment that can draw us together and hopefully for many hundreds of years to come.

I come about my media perspective after many years in the broadcast news field. I take these practical skills and apply them to the problem. How do you say hello to everyone in the world? It comes down to the nuts and bolts of the revelation, the greeting and the innumerable small details that must be worked out to pull it off. You must consider how everyone will react: the first police on the scene; the local news media; the national news media; city leaders; state officials; the National Guard; the FBI; the FAA; and the people who live near the First Contact location. Then you must consider how to disprove the hoax: the revelation; the proof; the experts needed to scrutinize the proof; and the process to bring the proof to the experts.
In one respect this is the ultimate Public Relations question. How would you pull it off? Yes, I have a public relations background and yes, I understand that the profession is not often viewed positively. In reality public relations is like anything else: it is what you make of it. If you want to use deception to get your way that is what will characterize your efforts. I personally believe that honesty in public relations is not only possible but necessary. If you approach a problem using honest solutions you wind up with a much better product.

In the end First Contact will be a carefully constructed house of cards. Even worse each card will be shaking and teetering throughout the event. First Contact will call for quick decision making and a high degree of flexibility. You have to analyze every possible angle and then be prepared to have something occur which you have not even considered.

The First Contact scenario described here only takes into account the first few days. It begins with the revelation, moves through the process of disproval of the hoax, and sets up the next step. That step should be the extraterrestrial representatives addressing a joint session of the United Nations. It should be broadcast for the entire world to see and share. This will be the moment that will be crucial to the ensuing years. After First Contact life won’t be easy. The revelation of an extraterrestrial civilization will set forces into motion in our society that will be hard to control. Ultimately I believe we will come out of it stronger, more united, and ready to take our place as citizens of the universe.

This blog is about taking that very first step into a new era.