ARC Key Centre for Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology

The Key Centre for Human Factors (KCHF) was funded by an ARC Key Centre grant from 1999 to 2004. ARC funding for Key Centres in general ceased in 2004. KCHF has functioned on substantial grant and contract funding from 2005-2007.

In 2008 the activities of KCHF have taken several directions:

• Much research on Air Traffic Control and healthcare human factors will be conducted within NICTA (National ICT Australia) under the aegis of the Cognitive and Organisational Systems Engineering project.
• Research on text mining and concept mapping (Leximancer™) is being conducted increasingly within the Institute for Social Science Research, UQ
• Research on memory is being conducted largely as part of Prof Michael Humphreys' ongoing appointment with the School of Psychology
• Research on auditory display (CorpiSon™) and head mounted displays is being conducted within the Cognitive Engineering Research Group.

From 2002-2008 an innovative suite of online postgraduate programs in Human Factors was offered, but it has been discontinued. The remaining students in the program are completing their degrees in 2008 and 2009, but no certificate, diploma or degree enrolments are being taken.

Academic personnel and researchers

• Prof Penelope Sanderson (Director, 2005-present: 100% contributed to NICTA)
• Prof Michael Humphreys (Founding Director, 1999-2004: 10% contributed to NICTA)
• A/Prof Andrew Neal (50% contributed to NICTA)
• Dr Andrew Smith (Senior Research Officer, Institute for Social Science Research, UQ: 10% contributed to NICTA)
• A/Prof Marcus Watson (Senior Director, Queensland Health Skills Development Centre: 20% contributed to NICTA)

Contact information

• Prof Penelope Sanderson: