The theme of the Congress is Changes, Challenges and Opportunities. This theme reflects the current debates in the ergonomics domain.As a multidisciplinary science, ergonomics has changed and grown over the last 50 years to now cover 26 different technical areas operationalize through technical committees (TC). Each TC enables researchers and practitioners to share together in a wide diversity of areas from agricultural challenges in developing countries to aerospace ergonomics. This Congress will see the development of this theme in both the research and application of ergonomics. The utilization of interactive sessions, discussion groups and workshops will support promoting interaction and linking between partners at an international level.

BACKGROUND TO IEA 2009 CONGRESS

The goal of the 17th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) is to provide a shared intellectual and social platform for the deliberation, exchange and dissemination of information and experiences on the most recent and relevant research, theories and practices in ergonomics and human factors engineering. This congress has been hosted in various venues around the world, the last in Maastricht, Netherlands, which includes a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the IEA. In 2009, Beijing is proud to host the IEA Congress at the Beijing Jiuhua International Conference and Exhibition Centre, www.jiuhua.com.cn . Over the years, the Congress has grown in size, as a response to the increasing importance of human factors and ergonomics applications in socio-technical systems. The congress will connect researchers and practitioners from different technical areas of ergonomics and HFE around the world to share and participate in joint activities. Young and retired ergonomists are welcomed to co-share their knowledge, skills and experiences as part of lifelong learning. Typical events shall include scientific sessions, workshops, tutorials, demonstrations, exhibitions, and technical committee meetings. However, IEA 2009 will introduce new events from Meet-the-Editor sessions, ISO159 Committee sessions, 99 Seconds Sessions, Student-to-Student Outreach sessions to Launching of IEA-ILO Ergonomics Checkpoints and WEAR databases. There will be something for everyone as IEA 2009 takes an inclusive, participative and integrative approach to knowledge and experience sharing.