Michael Shermer

Skeptic magazine founder named to the UAP Science Advisory Council in June 2026 as its in-house sceptic, after years of saying UAP claims lack evidence.

Current role: Founder and publisher, Skeptic magazine; host of The Michael Shermer Show; member of the UAP Science Advisory Council (study of anomalies)

Former roles:

Monthly Skeptic columnist, Scientific American (2001–2019)

Background

Michael Shermer, born in Los Angeles in 1954, holds a PhD in the history of science from Claremont Graduate University (1991). He co-founded the Skeptics Society in 1991, publishes Skeptic magazine, wrote Scientific American's monthly Skeptic column from 2001 to 2019 and has taught at Chapman University since 2011. His books include Why People Believe Weird Things, The Believing Brain and Conspiracy. He has long argued that UFO and UAP claims rest on testimony rather than physical evidence. In June 2026 Avi Loeb named him to the UAP Science Advisory Council for "the study of anomalies", as reported by DefenseScoop, and the Harvard Crimson described him as the group's in-house doubter. The council is advisory only: it works from unclassified data, its members hold no clearances, and it has no published charter or budget.

On the record

2026-10-08 – Boston Globe op-ed – "So far, in my opinion, we have found no verifiable evidence of contact with or discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence" … "The videos we're working with are filled with redactions in the form of blacked-out rectangles" … "we need much more data from the government (if they have it) than they've been giving us." Boston Globe
2026-07-11 – Harvard Crimson – on how the council was assembled: "I don't think there was any attempt to strike a balance between Harvard and non-Harvard." On its prospects: "I'm hoping that Avi's connections to insiders high up may get us some good materials," Crimson
2026-07-02 – Scientific American – "I think most people in government don't think it's aliens." He said he would keep the members focused on established scientific consensus. Scientific American
2026-06-23 – The Michael Shermer Show #621, "Why I Joined the Government UAP Science Advisory Council". Episode page
2026-06 – NewsNation – in an emailed reply to Ross Coulthart's criticism, said he generally tries to be "non-disparaging" and that David Grusch "deflects" when asked for evidence. NewsNation
2026-06-15 – Skeptic – on his appointment: "Science advances by investigating anomalies with curiosity, skepticism, and methodological rigor," and "I am honored to serve alongside such an accomplished group of scientists and scholars". Skeptic · DefenseScoop
2023-07 – CBC News, after the 26 July House Oversight hearing with Grusch, Graves and Fravor – "It's astonishing it's come this far without any real evidence, without anybody in the scientific community making an appearance," and "We are still seeing not a shred of physical evidence." CBC

Responses and criticism

2026-06 – Ross Coulthart, NewsNation Prime – "I don't think there's any harm in having a skeptic, so long as they are a skeptic and not a debunker," citing what he called Shermer's "pejorative" comments about David Grusch. NewsNation

Timeline of involvement

1991 – co-founds the Skeptics Society, publisher of Skeptic magazine
2001 to 2019 – Scientific American Skeptic column
2023-07 – criticises the House Oversight UAP hearing for lacking physical evidence
2026-06-15 – appointment to the UAP Science Advisory Council announced by Skeptic
2026-06-23 – podcast episode explaining why he joined
2026-07 – quoted by Scientific American and the Harvard Crimson on the council's makeup

Relevant links

Part of the Key People in Disclosure series. Verified 2026-11-02. Spotted an error? Reach out.