BUFORA Bulletin No. 003

This document is the March 1982 issue (No. 003) of the BUFORA Bulletin, published by the British UFO Research Association. The bulletin serves as an administrative and informational update for members, detailing organizational changes, new initiatives, and research projects. A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to the 'New Initiative' led by Jenny Randles, the new Director of Investigations, which aims to professionalize the investigation process through the introduction of 'Accredited Investigators' (AIs) and a standardized reporting format. The bulletin also outlines the 'Code of Practice for UFO Investigators,' which was formally approved in February 1982 to ensure ethical standards in witness interaction and data handling.

Beyond internal administration, the bulletin features research-oriented content, including an article by Manfred Cassirer on electromagnetic (EM) effects in UFO reports, and a piece by Hilary Evans on the psychological phenomenon of being 'followed' by a light source, which he identifies as a common misinterpretation of optical effects. Project UFO-MD, led by Dr. Richard C. Niemtzow, is introduced as a program focused on the medical injuries associated with close encounters, outlining a research plan to catalog such incidents. The bulletin also includes a 'Scottish Sighting Abstract' detailing several historical and recent reports from Scotland, and provides obituaries for prominent members, including Major Dr. Geoffrey Gilbert Doel and Charles Harvard Gibba-Smith. The publication emphasizes the importance of scientific rigor, cooperation between various UFO organizations (such as ASSAP and OSEAP), and the need for a more structured approach to ufology in Britain.