About the Institute

The Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors is an international organisation whose main aim is to promote public awareness of ergonomics and its applications and to provide educational material for students and teachers through this, its dedicated website. It also runs Regional Groups and Special Interest Groups that promote ergonomics/human factors in localities and for specific applications, for example health systems, driving and HCI.

The IEHF, as the Ergonomics Society, celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2009 with a series of events including breakfast meetings, a special Anniversary Conference and in November, the opening of the Ergonomics : Real Design Exhibition at the Design Museum in London. There was also an anniversary publication (copies are still available on request) which recorded developments over the years of a range of different ergonomics applications from transport to IT. The Institute changed its name from the Ergonomics Society in October 2009.

As the professional organisation for ergonomists and human factors specialists, the Institute maintains standards and a Register of Ergonomics Consultancies.

The Institute has a small office in Loughborough in the UK. The connection with the town goes back 50 years. Loughborough College of Technology was home to the first academic ergonomics department, the Department of Ergonomics & Cybernetics, to be set up in the UK in 1960. Loughborough College of Technology became Loughborough University six years later and still offers a significant range of ergonomics/human factors degree courses.

Institute members play a vital role in deciding and managing Institute policy, maintaining and developing academic and professional standards. They do this on a voluntary basis by serving on Council and committees which meet at regular intervals throughout the year.

The IEHF recognises excellence in the practice of ergonomics and human factors by awarding prizes, bursaries and medals each year.

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