Turning the page

Ergonomics is now in its 7^th decade of publication and during its time has had 8 overseeing editors, many of whom represent some of the most distinguished figures in the discipline. These include Alan Welford, Harry Maule, Ivan Brown, Peter Davis, and Rainer Goldsmith. The first issue of Volume 65 of Ergonomics represents another turning point in the history of the journal with the retirement of the current Editor-in-Chief (EiC) Roger Haslam and the appointment of myself as incoming EiC from January 2022. Roger has held the position for 15 years and this makes him one of the longest-serving Editors the journal has had. Under his leadership, Ergonomics has expanded into new areas of application including special issues covering: brain-computer interface and ergonomics (2012); ergonomics and sustainability (2013); new paradigms in ergonomics (2017); human factors and ergonomics for patient safety in practice (2018); and computational modelling (2018). Alongside these developments have been other new features and types of content which have been introduced into the journal including debates on important topics in ergonomics and human factors (EHF) (e.g. automated and autonomous vehicles, 2019) and the state of science series of papers (e.g. perspectives on human error, 2021; the future of work, 2021; ergonomics and global issues, 2018; occupational slips, trips and falls, 2016; mental workload, 2015). It would be an understatement to say that under his leadership and the team of Editors Roger has worked with, Ergonomics has advanced considerably and has remained in the vanguard of EHF research dissemination and debate. I will hold off from saying more about Roger now, but we will be looking to find ways of celebrating his leadership and contribution to the legacy of the journal.

Leafing through the volumes of Ergonomics since the journal first appeared in November 1957 it is clear that many of its aims (e.g. publishing original research reports, descriptions of research needs in the industry – see also Edholm and Murrell, 1973) have remained priorities for Ergonomics over the years, and continue to be so. Many of the papers also covered topics that are still current in 2022 (e.g. vehicle design, the impact of noise on behaviour, fatigue). Volume 1 also contains articles from authors distributed around the world, a proud tradition of internationality that continues to today. In earlier history, Waterson and Sell (2006) underlined the excellent relationship Ergonomics has had with publishers Taylor and Francis over the years (see also Lewis, 1983; Brock and Meadows, 1994). This continues to be the case, with the journal facilitating a strong partnership with the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), but also working as a seedbed for countless other publications and books produced by Taylor and Francis. These factors, in combination with others, have contributed to the continued standing Ergonomics has within the wider field of ergonomics and human factors.

Fast-forwarding to 2022, it is clear that the field of ergonomics and human factors is expanding in a number of directions. Some of these are prompted by scientific developments such as the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning, whilst others are taking on issues of longer-term societal importance (e.g. globalisation, the goal of net-zero energy emissions). EHF has always been a ‘bridging discipline’ (Meister, 1989) and there are clear signs that fields such as sustainability and data science are starting to become part of mainstream EHF research. Ergonomics has always been at the forefront of keeping up with these trends. The journal has also played a substantial role in setting an agenda for EHF as a whole and that tradition will continue and expand. An additional priority will be keeping up at pace with new scientific and societal trends and developments. Alongside staples such as the ‘State of Science’ papers more ‘horizon scanning’ type articles will be needed. The realities of 2022 almost certainly mean that topics such as job design, training, and redeployment will become more prominent, with these ‘bread and butter’ EHF fields of enquiry making a comeback, having dropped off the agenda in more recent years. Ergonomics, in my opinion, is the perfect place for this.

Aside from new developments in terms of the content of the journal, the next few years are also likely to involve changes to the way articles are presented and promoted. One of the challenges will be the drive towards what is termed ‘open research’ and ‘open science’. This involves using digital technologies, tools, and services to support engagement with stakeholders, as well as validation and re-use of research through open dissemination and peer review. Most readers of the journal will be familiar with the practice of ‘open access’ articles (i.e. free, unrestricted online access to research). Similar principles are already in practice for data sets relating to medicine and many other branches of science. These developments are not without risk and many questions remain about threats to the privacy and confidentiality of data. Despite these risks, it is very likely that journals such as Ergonomics will move further in this direction over time.

A second development that is impacting the world of scientific publishing is the drive to maximise the impact of scientific articles and to increase their ability to become even more interdisciplinary. Some of this involves platforms such as social media which, to some extent, is already underway with Ergonomics (the use of Twitter for example - @ergonomics 1957). Other ways of promoting published research are also becoming common (e.g. video-based abstracts). These are positive developments and can help authors attract attention to their work, as well as promote it to practitioners in a timely and accessible manner. One of my goals as incoming Editor-in-Chief of Ergonomics is to engage in dialogue with our publishers to see how some of these new trends and developments might make their way into the journal. These are exciting developments and under my leadership Ergonomics will engage with them.

On a personal level, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Roger Haslam. We have collaborated on several projects over the years and our work has not only been productive but also great fun. I would like to wish him a long and happy retirement and at the same time to welcome him in his new role as Editor-in-Chief Emeritus. All the best and thank you, Roger.