News

Representatives and Liaisons Committee Forges Collaborations

The mission of HFES is to advance the science and practice of designing for people in systems through knowledge exchange, collaboration, and advocacy.  To this end, the Representatives and Liaisons Committee, under the leadership of its Chair, Chris Reid, has investigated and identified allied societies to engage with on collaborative activities. HFES recently reached agreement with several societies and continues working towards completion of agreements with a number of others.

In April, HFES and ASTM International co-signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to encourage technical excellence in exoskeletons and their enabling technologies through the application of standards to reflect human centric solutions.

In addition to promoting benefits of membership to each others’ societies, this agreement will enable HFES to contribute expert input into the development of ASTM exo-technology standards and other areas of common interest.  This will include the joint organization and delivery of workshops, symposia, training events and other educational activities.  And to promote awareness about the value and benefit of ASTM International standards among HFES student members, the agreement provides HFES the opprotunity to submit a student scholarship application to ASTM international each year.

Another MOU was recently completed with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).  The agreement sets up a communications channel intended to:

  • Encourage information and educational exchanges among members of HFSE and AISES
  • Introduce members of AISES, especially students, to the field of HF/E and career opportunities in the field
  • Share information about co-operative education and internship opportunities for students
  • Foster and facilitate opportunities for facilitate opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary research

More activities are intended to result from this collaboration including AISES members participating in HFES Affinity Group planning meetings to share perspectives from the Native American community; this will help introduce additional AISES members to participating in HFES and will aid the Affinity Groups in expanding their programming

At this time, we await co-signature of an MOU by the Machine and Safety Section of the International Social Security Association (ISSA).  The ISSA promotes excellence in social security administration to enable its members to develop dynamic social security systems and policy.  Its Machine and Safety section is committed to improving safety and health at work in the field of machine and system safety worldwide.  They work to recognize and integrate human factors when addressing assessment of systems regarding safety, security and health at work when using machines, technical systems or plants in manufacturing.

The partnership between HFES and the ISSA Section on Machine and System Safety will facilitate communication between the organizations to improve occupational safety and health through information sharing, experience exchange, organization of educational activities and cross publication of important relevant information on matters including ways to analyze and evaluation dangers, hazards and risks, among other initiatives.

A number of similar collaborations are being advanced with other societies including, the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the National Safety Council (NSC), Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM).  This work to develop new relationships with allied societies does not mean that our established relationships are any less important. HFES continues to engage with the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics, the Foundation for Professional Ergonomics, and others.

Members of the Representatives and Liaisons Committee include:

  • Tom Albin
  • HeeSun Choi
  • Michael Clamann
  • Jing Feng
  • Rose Figueroa
  • Keith Jones
  • Nancy Larson
  • Gwen Malone
  • Ranjana Mehta
  • Chris Pan
  • Susan Plano
  • Rob Radwin
  • Chris Reid
  • Carolyn Sommerich
  • Divya Srinivasan
  • Baron Summers
  • Julia Trippe