During two 90-minute virtual gatherings of IEA council representatives, Executive Committee members and Sustaining Members on 27 August, 39 participants from around the world shared in break-out rooms to present key points for a successful “elevator pitch” concerning Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Screenshot from session 3A (started at 0700 UTC on 27 August 2026)
Screenshot from session 3B (started at 0700 UTC on 27 August 2026)
The full summary with recordings of each session will be shared with all those invited to attend. However, a few key points for your interest were are produced here:
- Don’t: present an academic lecture -> maybe not use the term ergonomics at all?
- Do: use a “hook”: either personal background, relatable example from real life, analogy: e.g. doctor makes people better-ergonomists make (work) systems better (=safer, more productive).
- Consider recognised understandable terms: “human-systems integration” or “human systems interfacing” –be aware that some people may think systems = technology only.
- Recognize the interests of the person listening: ask “what keeps you up at night” or “grandma talks” – adapting to the listener.
- Focus on positives of E/HF first – it is a helping, designing, and innovative field.
- Present cost-avoidance to provide supplementary information.
- There are difficulties in establishing a common elevator pitch: there are varying educational paths, disciplines, languages, histories of E/HF professionals and experts.
- Example for healthcare:“designing systems so that we can catch errors before they become patient harm” (we all make mistakes).
