The program will start at lunchtime on 9th November and end at lunchtime on the 10th of November. The programme is as follows (please note that all times are indicated in CET, i.e. the time in for instance Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands). Abstracts can be read here.

The student session on Thursday 9 November from 13:00 to 14:00 will be open access even to non-NES members. Go in here in order to register just for the student session and use your organisational or school/university e-mail when doing so.

Keynote The digital workplace

Magga Dóra Ragnarsdottir is the principal designer and founder of Mennsk ráðgjöf, a civic design agency. She has been working in the digital space since last century and with her joint background in computer science and psychology has placed herself firmly on the intersection between humans and technology. She holds a yearly digital product design course at the University of Reykjavik, Computer Science department.

In her keynote (Thursday 9th November) she will discuss how our digital work environment should also fall under regulations on health and safety.

Keynote Brain health in the digital age – viewpoint of ethics and affections at work

Kati Päätalo, PhD, works as a principal lecturer (leadership and well-being promotion) at Oulu University of Applied Sciences in Finland focusing her work on Master’s degree programmes, further education and RDI. Her research and development areas relate to leadership focusing on well-being at work, evidence-based health services and measuring well-being at work. Kati Päätalo also leads research, development and innovation line in a well-being and cultural field of expertise (OUAS) with a focus on well-being and competent staff. She has over 20 years of experience in teaching and developing especially occupational health services. Kati Päätalo with her colleagues in OUAS has participated in Sustainable Brain Health project (2020-2023), which focused on cognitive ergonomics, information ergonomics, affective ergonomics, self-direction and ethical workload.

In her keynote lecture (Thursday 9th November), Kati Päätalo will focus on brain health in different sectors with a main focus in affective ergonomics and ethical challenges at work. Lecture will include research results and practical procedures and tools to support workplaces and employees to work smart from the viewpoint of brain health.

Keynote Human Factors in Disaster Resilient Society: a dive in a crucial challenge for European citizens and institutions

Gabriella Duca is a human factors scientist with a background in architectural design. She got her PhD on human–built environment interaction at Genoa University and has held the Eur.Erg. international qualification since 2003. She has 15+ years experience as an academic researcher and is now president of the ISSNOVA Foundation, where she also leads the Human Factors Integration Lab. Her research experience has addressed the transdisciplinary application of human factors with a focus on task analysis and human performance assessment, safety culture, human and organizational factors in systems sustainability, efficiency and resilience, human–built environment interaction, and inclusive and service design. She has conducted national and European research projects for a variety of private companies and public authorities. She is a full member of the HFES: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Europe Chapter and SIE Società Italiana di Ergonomia e Fattori Umani, where she served as national board member between 2010 and 2018. She is an editorial board member of Frontiers in Sustainable Cities—Urban Resource Management.

European citizens face increasingly severe events due to intrinsic risks of their territories and climate change. It is clear that risks and disasters have practical effect on citizens’ physical, psychological and social wellbeing and public institutions are challenged by strategical and operational issues dealing with prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and building back better, with the aim to mitigate negative impacts at individual and collective levels. In this context of many and interwoven actors, places, rules and mechanisms, everyone plays a role and everyone must be included in plans and operations for citizens safety.

Human Factors, as whole discipline, has developed concepts and tools widely applied in High Reliability Organizations but… what happens if the safety critical context embraces the overall society? Can we, and in what extent, transfer our everyday practices and knowledge to the purpose of public safety when a crisis occurs? How can HF boost civil protection dynamics, fostering the cooperation among citizens, citizens’ organizations, practitioners and all involved public institutions?

In her keynote lecture (Friday 10th November), Gabriella Duca will explore a variety of Human Factors and Ergonomics concepts and tools to integrate human factors and human variability, in plans and procedures for an increasingly disaster resilient society, also providing examples of running projects and achievements in this field.

Panel discussion on Friday 10th November

The panel discussion on Friday will be chaired by Leó Sigurðsson from Vinnís (Iceland) and will deal about Green Skills, Workplace Innovations and Just Transition. A brief teaser on the discussion can be watched below: