Overview and Purpose
The HFES Inclusion Award will recognize the contributions of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) members related to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (abbreviated “DEI”) in the fields of human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) and to HFES itself. These contributions may span outstanding and impactful research, practice, and service.
This award will recognize novel and recent contributions that extend the reach of HF/E to new areas. In contrast to existing HFES awards, this new award will specifically (a) address the critical importance of DEI principles, and (b) celebrate the impact of members’ research, practice, or service regarding these principles. Recipients can include individuals or collaborative teams. Importantly, these awards are not intended to highlight “career” or “lifetime” achievements, but instead focus on significant ongoing and/or recent efforts (i.e., within the last five years).
Example Types of Recognition
The proposed award will address three categories that represent different clusters or types of activities that can contribute meaningfully to DEI.
- One type of contribution pertains to research or scholarship that generates discoveries, improves understanding of problems or solutions, reveals strategies and methods, and/or evaluates theories and interventions related to DEI in HF/E contexts. Issues of inclusion and equity should be central to the research. All empirical research paradigms are eligible for this award, including (but not limited to) laboratory studies, experimental studies, field studies, qualitative studies, community research, and program evaluations.
- Another type of contribution pertains to authentic applications of relevant methods and principles to advance DEI in the real-world practice of HF/E. An award can recognize concrete work taking place in industry, academia, consulting, business, and community settings that contribute to implementing solutions, creating organizations, developing resources, and/or promoting awareness of DEI issues. Examples might include (but are not limited to) (a) innovating and implementing a method of 'intersectional personas' in design activities, incorporating more mindful variations in identities to guide participatory design (b) redesigning or redeveloping a medical portal website to help clients connect with caregivers that align with their values and identities, or help physicians give more culturally relevant/responsive/sensitive communications to patients and (c) pioneering methods for more inclusive sampling and input in creating decision algorithms; implementing new ways to detect/mitigate/prevent bias in automated decision systems through using new tools or assessments.
- Another type of contribution acknowledges contributions to DEI promotion and advancement within HFES (including local and student chapters). We recognize that service is often relevant to research and practice, and such service will be valued as part of those activities. This work is specific to benefiting or transforming the Society directly. Examples might include (but are not limited to) concrete initiatives to (a) increase authentic diversity among HFES members, along with (b) promoting meaningful inclusion and sense of belonging, particularly for members of historically marginalized or excluded backgrounds.
- In some cases, individuals or teams may engage in a wide range of activities that pertain to multiple categories. In these cases, the nominations should address the most salient contribution (e.g. research, practice, or service).
Eligibility and Nomination Process
Only current members of HFES in any category membership may be nominated for individual awards of any of the three categories. Nominated teams will be more competitive when most of the team are HFES members. HFES members must be central to the impact and leadership of the team. Membership is defined by holding a current member account.
The nomination process is designed to encourage as many nominations as possible by reducing the workload of nominating others, while also soliciting sufficient information regarding the meaningful and measurable impact of a nominee.
Nominators must be current HFES members in any membership category. Additional letters of support may be provided by non-members. To avoid potential conflicts of interest or opportunities for coercion, nominations and letters of support cannot be accepted from individuals who are supervised by the nominee. For example, graduate students may not nominate or support their current advisors or committee members, and employees may not nominate or support their current supervisors. Former students and former employees may provide nominations and self-nominations are allowed.
Nomination Materials
Nominations will be submitted by completing the Nomination Form comprising the following information:
- name and contact information of the nominee.
- name and contact information of the nominator.
- indicate the primary contribution (research, practice, or service)
- describe the nominees’ activities and efforts relevant to the award category (i.e., what they have been doing); please be concise and specific (~250-400 words)
- evaluate the impact and contributions of the nominees’ activities (i.e., concrete benefits and outcomes); please be concise and specific (~250-400 words)
- append one letter of support from a current HFES member (not the nominator); this letter can elaborate on the nominees’ DEI activities and impact (max 1 page)
- append the current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume of the nominee(s). Please note that contents of the CV or resume are not considered in award decisions but may be used to develop a profile of recipients in award announcements.
Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern Time, Friday, May 24. Nomination Form is at the Bottom of this Page
Timeline and Decision Process
- April/May: This is an inaugural call for HFES Inclusion Award nominations. (In subsequent years, this call will occur in parallel with all other annual calls for HFES Awards)
- May/June: Nomination materials will be screened for completeness (i.e., all components are present) and relevance (i.e., nomination aligns to the stated award category). Incomplete and irrelevant nominations will not be considered.
- June/July: The Inclusion Awards sub-committee will be a diverse review committee with representation from multiple Affinity Groups and Technical Groups, who are not participants in the nomination process (i.e., as nominators or nominees). Nominees will not be evaluated by reviewers who are (a) close friends, (b) work at the same organization, or (c) collaborate on any projects.
- June-August: Nominations for each award will be reviewed based on an award-specific rubric.
- August 2nd: Decisions about awards will be announced on August 2, 2024, thus allowing recipients ample time to plan conference attendance and travel.
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