The project is divided into two main phases: Firstly, an exploratory questionnaire study was used to survey attitudes to the extraterrestrial intelligence/consequences of first contact complexes in various countries. To this end, a questionnaire was developed based on the work of Michael Schetsche and Andreas Anton on exosociology, which was used to collect data online via the Durham University website from July to October 2024. The aim was to obtain data from as many different countries as possible.

A total of 7441 participants from 88 different countries took part. It should be noted that this is not a representative study. The results indicate that there is generally a higher degree of openness within the sample with regard to the topic under investigation. Around 78% of respondents stated that they believe that humanity will one day come into contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. 60% even assume that the Earth has already been visited by extraterrestrials.

In the second phase of the project, experts from various disciplines (such as psychology, sociology, religious studies and law) were asked to write articles on the possible consequences of first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization based on specific key questions.