Embry-Riddle Hosts Fourth Annual Florida Student Conference for Human Factors and Applied Psychology

Daytona Beach, FL., January 12, 2010

Embry-Riddle Hosts Fourth Annual Florida Student Conference for Human Factors and Applied Psychology

By Kira Vuille-Kowing

On April 15th, students from across the state will travel to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for the school’s fourth annual Florida Student Conference for Human Factors and Applied Psychology.

“We expect this year’s conference to be better than ever,” said Dr. Beth Blickensderfer, the faculty chair for the conference. “We have excellent participation both from our own students as well as several other universities. We even have a large group flying down from the United States Military Academy.”

The conference offers a venue for undergraduate and graduate students to showcase their academic research and converse with other students and faculty members who are interested in the fields of Human Factors and Applied Psychology. Students, who are required to submit a 300-500 word abstract, choose between orally presenting their research and exhibiting it in a poster format. Awards are given for the best undergraduate student paper, best graduate student paper, and the best overall paper.

Joseph Crimi, a Human Factors graduate student who serves as the student chair for the conference, believes that this structure prepares students for future presentations at professional conventions.

“The best thing about this conference is the experience it gives to students,” said Crimi, who looks forward to presenting his own research on increasing efficiency through the integration of information into one system. “The skills students develop [here] can only benefit their future.”

The research presented at the conference will cover a variety of topics in areas including cognitive psychology, experimental psychology, human factors, industrial and organizational psychology, and physiological psychology. Some students, such as graduating senior Ryan Blanding, have chosen to collaborate with other peers and faculty members.

“I worked with another student, Tripp Driskell, and two faculty members in the department,” Blanding said. “Essentially, [the goal of our research] was to help create requirements for the use of Datacomm, a system which will eventually replace voice communications with data---a sort of text messaging system for air traffic control.”

Returning students can expect to see several changes in the conference format. The most notable addition is the inaugural Design/Re-Design competition. The contest invites students to revise and improve current designs so that they provide a better fit for human needs. Entries will be evaluated on criteria such as innovation, creativity, breadth, and the benefits of the design. The winner of the competition will be awarded a monetary prize.

Another notable inclusion in the 2010 conference is keynote speaker Dr. Scott Shappell, a nationally renowned expert in Human Factors and Aviation. A professor at Clemson University and the former Human Factors Research Manager at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, he will deliver an address entitled “Putting a Face on Human Error in Aviation.”

With the new additions and high participation, conference participants are eagerly looking forward to April.

“I just think that the opportunities are endless with this conference,” said Blanding. “I’d encourage anyone in a psychology class or human factors class to…present at the conference sometime.

“I look forward to seeing our students shine,” said Blickensderfer.

To learn more about the conference, visit http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/coas/human-factors/news-events/events/2010-florida-student-conference-for-human-factors-and-applied-psychology.html

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