title: Recurrent themes and developments in the history of the Ergonomics Society.
abstract: This paper provides an outline of the main historical developments and recurrent themes that have taken place in the history of the Ergonomics Society (ES) over 50 years. Alongside a chronology of significant events during the period 1949-1999, a set of issues raised by interviews with prominent members of the ES and other historical materials, we focus specifically on seven main areas: the growth and influence of the ES (e.g. internationalization, membership changes); external relations (e.g. press and public relations); publications (e.g. Society journals and key texts); key individuals and institutions; influence on government and other bodies (e.g. participation in committees and inquiries); and image and identity (e.g. changes to the image of the ES over time). We conclude the paper with a summary and discussion of the key developments in the history, as well as the outstanding challenges for the future.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer IESE, Fraunhofer Platz 1, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany. waterson@iese.fhg.de
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waterson
authors.forename: Reg
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sell
mesh_terms: D006804:Ergonomics / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D018156:Journalism, Medical / Q000266:history; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012958:Societies, Scientific / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom