Paolo Toselli

Early Life and Career

Paolo Toselli was born in Acqui Terme, Italy, in 1960 and developed an early interest in UFO phenomena. Beginning his research in 1973 at age 12–13, he founded the ACOM (Alessandria local UFO group) in 1974 and edited its bulletin from 1974 to 1979. By 1978, he had become a member and provincial director of CUN (Centro Ufologico Nazionale), Italy's largest UFO research organization at the time, a position he held until 1985.

CISU Founding and Leadership

Toselli was a founding member of CISU (Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici) in 1985, when the organization was established to promote scientific inquiry into UFO phenomena. He rose to prominence within CISU, serving as its President from 1996 to 1998, and has remained active as a counselor and editor of the organization's journal, UFO – Rivista di informazione ufologica. CISU became one of Europe's leading UFO research organizations, and Toselli's contributions shaped its academic approach.

Research Contributions and Methodology

Since 1978, Toselli has focused on the socio-psychological and perceptual dimensions of UFO experiences, with particular emphasis on IFO cases (Identified Flying Objects). His 1982 presentation "Examining the IFO Cases: the Human Factor" at the International UPIAR Colloquium on Human Sciences and UFO Phenomena in Salzburg became a recognized classic in specialized UFO literature. This work highlighted the importance of understanding witness psychology, perception bias, and misidentification in UFO investigations—a methodological position that elevated European ufology's scientific rigor.

Toselli has coordinated or maintains several major research projects: the Science.Cat project (bibliography of scientific UFO literature, since 1985), a catalogue of European UFO/IFO sightings (since 2007), and an international catalogue of university theses and dissertations on UFO topics (since 2006). These databases have become essential resources for international UFO researchers.

Publications and Public Engagement

Toselli is a prolific writer whose articles have appeared in Italian and international UFO periodicals and in academic book chapters. His major publications include F.B.I.: Dossier UFO – I veri X-Files (Armenia, 1996), Alessandria 1978 – Allarme UFO (UPIAR, 2008, with documentary DVD), and UFO LUDICO, an analysis of extraterrestrial themes in popular culture, toys, and games over seven decades. He is also a frequent speaker at UFO conferences and congresses throughout Italy and internationally, with hundreds of media appearances on Italian radio and television.

Broader Scholarly Interests

Beyond ufology, since 1990 Toselli has developed expertise in urban legends and contemporary folklore, founding the CeRaVoLC (Italian Center for the Collection of Contemporary Voices and Legends) and publishing TutteStorie, a newsletter on modern myths and rumors. This parallel work reflects his broader interest in how societies generate, transmit, and rationalize narratives about the unexplained.