4th - 6th February 2026
The Quaker Meeting House
7 Victoria Terrace, above, Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
This year Social Psychology of Risk (SPoR) conference theme is centred on Holistic Ergonomics and Human Factors. But instead of factoring the human in the system, we will learn about the ethics, methods and frameworks that humanise people and enhance their wellness at workplaces and beyond.
Ergonomics and Human Factors: Where are we headed
It is an irony of our times that at the time when the discussion about human factors and ergonomics is at its peak, there are more people than ever reporting sick at work. The number of people claiming disability benefits has doubled. People often feel anxious and stressed by work culture and use this as the basis to claim long term sickness. Relationships are at an all-time low. The former chief economist of the bank of England, Andy Haldane says that “For the first time, probably since the Industrial Revolution … health and wellbeing are in retreat”.
Learning Ergonomics through Experiential (Semiotic) Walks
In this conference, we will apply the discipline of Social Psychology of Risk to the nature of work, work design, work processes and ergonomics. Orthodox approaches to human factors and ergonomics view human behaviour as a mechanical response to environmental stimuli. It is a common view that if we can improve the physical design and the environment at work, people will perform better, safer and feel healthier. Stepping outside of the stimulus-response approach to human behaviour, we will learn how humans as embodied (whole) beings are emotionally affected by their environment and by social relationships at work.
As part of the conference, we will also go on three semiotic walks to observe and feel how space and place influences our emotions, anxiety and stress and how we can create rituals and routines in our everyday lives that would truly humanise our workplaces and meeting spaces.
https://novellus.solutions/mec-events/social-psychology-of-risk-conference-spor-europe-2026/