Curriculum Vitae - Ryan J. Cook

Ryan J. Cook

Personal Data

Citizenship: USA (DOB 7 Mar 1974)
E-mail: anthufo1@anthroufo.info
Website: www.anthroufo.info

Education

1998-2004

University of Chicago, Chicago IL
PhD, cultural anthropology
Weather-Workers, Saucer Seekers, and Orthoscientists: Epistemic Authority in Central Mexico (Dec. 2004)

1996-1998

University of Chicago, Chicago IL
MA, cultural anthropology
Shaman and Abductee: American Ufology as Cryptoscience and Countersociology (Aug 1998)

1992-1996

St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud MN
BA, cultural anthropology
Sources of Miscommunication Between Native and Nonnative Speakers of English (Jun 1996)

Publications

2005

Why Are There No Abductee Religions? In ET Culture: Anthropology in Outer Spaces. Debbora Battaglia, ed. Durham: Duke University.
Review: Hillary Webb. 2004. Traveling Between the Worlds. and Robert Wallis. 2003. Shamans/neo-Shamans. Journal of Scientific Exploration 19(3):467-471.

2003

The Alien Abduction Phenomenon and Religious Experiences. In Fátima e a Ciência: Investigão Multidisciplinar das Experiências Religiosas. Fernando Fernandes, Joaquim Fernandes, and Raul Berengel, eds. Centro Transdisciplinar de Estudos da Conciência (CTEC), colecção "Ciência e conciência" II. Porto: Esquilo. Pp. 155-166.
News Media and the Religious Use of UFOs: The Case of Chen Tao-True Way. In Encyclopedic Sourcebook of UFO Religions. James R. Lewis, ed. Amherst: Prometheus. Pp. 301-320.

2001

Chen Tao. In Odd Gods: New Religions and the Cult Controversy. James R. Lewis, ed. Amherst: Prometheus. Pp. 371-372.

2000

Chen Tao. In UFOs and Popular Culture. James R. Lewis, ed. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. Pp. 68-70.
Chen Tao/God's Salvation Church; Heaven's Gate. In Encyclopedia of Millennialism and Millennial Movements. Richard Landes, ed. Boston: Routledge/Berkshire Reference. Pp. 69-70, 177-179.

1998

Ryan J. Cook, Dereck M. Daschke, Carrie B. Dohe, and Matthew J. Goff. God and Grad Students Descend on Texas: A Field Report on the Chen Tao. Millennial Prophecy Report 7(2) (Jul)

Conference Papers

2001

Why UFOs Are Ideal for New Religious Movements, and Why They Fail. Paper presented at Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference on Science and Culture, Institute of Liberal Arts, Kentucky State University, Frankfort KY (Apr)

2000

Anthropology, UFOs, and Epistemic Authority: The Perils of Ethnography at the Fringe. Paper presented at the Third Annual Anthropology Graduate Student Symposium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA (Oct)

1999

God's Descending in Clouds (Flying Saucers): Anthropological Approaches to UFOs in the Religious Register. Paper presented at the American Anthropological Association annual meeting, Chicago IL (Nov)
Reporters in God-land, Texas: The Role of the Mass Media in a New Religious Movement's Adaptation to Suburban America. Paper presented at the Center for the Study of New Religions annual conference, Bryn Athyn PA (Jun)
'God's Descending in Clouds (Flying Saucers) on Earth to Save People:' Mass Mediation of Prophecy in a Taiwanese Syncretic Movement. Paper presented at the Central States Anthropological Society annual meeting, Chicago IL (Apr)

1998

Chen Tao and the Mass Mediation of Prophetic End-Time Dating. Paper presented at the Center for Millennial Studies annual conference, Boston University, Boston MA (Dec)
with Dereck M. Daschke, Carrie B. Dohe, and Matthew J. Goff. A Report on Chen Tao. Panel presentation at Millennium Watch 2000 annual meeting, Divinity School, University of Chicago, Chicago IL (Apr)

Fieldwork

2004-05

Los Angeles CA USA
Preliminary field research with Mutual UFO Network (LA chapter) and National UFO Conference

2001, 2002-03

Puebla Pue Mexico
Doctoral research "Weather-Workers, Saucer Seekers, and Orthoscientists: Epistemic Authority in Central Mexico"

1998

Garland TX USA
Study of UFOs, prophecy, and the news media in an expatriate Taiwanese new religious movement

Teaching Experience

2005

Visiting assistant professor
Loyola University, Chicago IL

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - ANTH 102
World Cultures - ANTH 271

Visiting instructor
Morton College, Cicero IL

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - ANT 102

2000

Guest lecture on UFOs and new religious movements
Columbia College, Chicago IL (May)

Comparative Religions - Genl Stds 7501 (Daschke)

Guest lecture on UFOs
University of Chicago, Chicago IL (May)

Narrative and Experimental Ethnography - ANTH 334 (Fernandez)

1999

Guest lecture on fringe archaeological theory
St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud MN (Mar)

Fantastic Archaeology - ANTH 463 (Lane)

Media Work

2003

Interview on UFOs and volcano Popocatepetl.
Webcast, www.losovnis.tv, Mexico City, Mexico (May)

Series of appearances treating anthropology and volcano Popocatépetl.
El Club de la Buena Suerte, Televisa-Puebla, Mexico (Apr)

2002

Critical intervention in on-line article on alien abductions and religious experiences.
www.ovni.it, Italy

2001

Interview on Chen Tao religious movement.
ICRT radio network, Taipei, Taiwan

2001,2005

Creation of website on anthropology, science studies, new religious movements, and UFOs.

Languages

English - native
Spanish - competent

Awards and Fellowships

2002

Overseas Dissertation Research Grant (University of Chicago)

1992

Presidential Merit Scholarship (St. Cloud State University)