New Job, New Group, First Steps

This is my first official journal entry under the title “Ufologist.” It feels odd seeing that word on the paperwork, but here we are. Last week, I signed a 3 year-long field investigation assignment funded by a retired astrophysicist—known for now as simply “the Professor.” He handpicked a team of researchers and students from across the Northwest. Our goal: to log, investigate, and document unexplained phenomena across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Northern California.

The group is highly educated, opinionated, and, so far, cooperative. There are 10 of us total: nine professionals and two college students taking a break off to contribute. We range in specialties from archaeology and chemistry to psychology and journalism. Most of us met in person yesterday for the first time at the Professor’s residence just outside of Eugene, Oregon. It’s a modest two-story home with an observatory dome attached to the roof and an unexplainable number of weather radios.

He didn’t waste much time on pleasantries. We were each handed an itinerary packet, safety documentation, some legal paperwork none of us really read, and a rough schedule for our first few excursions. The first field assignment will begin in two days—investigating two concentric crop circles in a private field about 80 miles southeast of Eugene.

As for the team, I’ve included some basic background for the record:

• Egiel – Doctorate in Journalism and Social Sciences. Already asked who’s in charge at least three times.

• Josh – Master’s in Archaeology/Ancient Languages. Quiet so far, always sketching in a notebook.

• Robin – Undergrad, studies Geology and Chemistry. She’s young but sharp. Owns a rock hammer. Carries it.

• Caleb – Master’s in Culture and Native American History. Wears a field vest. Has opinions on everything.

• Vernon – Doctorate in Biology/Biochemistry. Swears he’ll identify a natural cause for everything.

• Jennifer – Master’s in Art History and Native American Studies. Talks with her hands. Very excited about cave trips.

• Donna – Doctorate in Humanities/Psychology. Treats everyone like a case study, in a good way.

• Mathew – Doctorate in Physics and Chemistry. He’s building sensor rigs. May never sleep.

• The Professor – No one’s sure if he’s fully retired. Tends to appear behind you with a notebook.

And then there’s me— artist, experienced case examiner, undecided undergraduate that changes majors at whim— now field Ufologist. I’m responsible for scene examination study and documenting each investigation and the transitions in between. Think of these entries as both personal and behind-the-scenes journal entries (not part of the real research documentation). When things go sideways, I’ll be the one putting it into clean paragraphs for whomever reads them far into the future.

There’s a rotating vehicle setup in the works. Not everyone brought cars, so the Professor is assigning car mates for each outing. Final travel assignments are still pending, but I’ve been told to “keep flexible.” That exact phrase came from Jennifer while she was holding four walkie-talkies. So we’ll see.

The next entry will be from the road. Our destination is a rural field that’s been sealed off by the landowner, who’s requesting discretion. Two perfect circles, one inside the other, appeared four days ago. No tractor tracks. No burn marks. No wind damage. Just two precise depressions.

Miles logged so far: 0

Next entry will mark the beginning of fieldwork.