In addition to widespread support, the work has also encountered vocal opposition that many articulate experiencers and talented researchers might understandably be unwilling to face. It has become clear that, in order to foster the collaboration that is needed on this complex subject, our research must be accompanied by consistent cultivation of a social environment of conscious listening. PEER Forms a Bridge PEER's efforts to deepen the understanding of reports of alien encounters have shown that it is difficult in our culture to credit and trust extraordinary experiences. A person attempting to speak about an experience for which we have no language cannot help but feel isolated. In turn, the listener attempting to comprehend what is being communicated may find it easier to dismiss the experience and the experiencer as irrational.
PEER forms a bridge between speakers and listeners, between subjectivity and science.
Toward these ends, the program currently offers an opportunity to share information through scientific research, clinical resources, and educational programs. The PEER community collaborates with individuals reporting anomalous experiences as well as with researchers, educators, therapists, and members of the interested public in order to expand the language of human experience to include extraordinary experiences. The alien encounter phenomenon is one of many anomalous experiences that might lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world. As resources become available, PEER is prepared to enlarge the scope of its work to include the study of other extraordinary experiences as well as the social implications that may arise from them. M.D. Edgar Mitchell, D.Sc.