Jacques Vallee on the National Institute for Discovery Science

This document is a blog post by Keith Basterfield, dated May 19, 2019, which examines the history of the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) based on diary entries from Jacques Vallee's book, 'Forbidden Science: Volume Four.' The post details how Robert Bigelow, a Las Vegas property developer, established NIDS in 1995 after ceasing funding for the 'UFO Coalition.' Bigelow's stated goal was to attract world-class scientists to study UFOs, the paranormal, and consciousness beyond death. The document chronicles the formation of the NIDS Science Advisory Board (SAB), noting the involvement of figures such as Hal Puthoff, Kit Green, and Jacques Vallee. It describes the institute's evolving mission, which shifted from a granting agency to a research-focused body. The text provides accounts of various SAB meetings, highlighting discussions on cattle mutilations, near-death experiences, and the surveillance of ranches in Utah and Nevada. Vallee's entries reveal internal tensions regarding the institute's direction, the lack of 'hard' UAP evidence at the Utah ranch, and Bigelow's fascination with 'Day After' scenarios and the possibility of cohabiting with non-human entities. The document also explores potential parallels between the NIDS era and the later Defense Intelligence Agency's Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP), noting the involvement of James T. Lacatski and the lack of public clarity regarding the connection between the ranch activities and government contracts. The post concludes by noting that while NIDS had a fine collection of scientists, its research effectiveness was sometimes questioned by its own members.