On January 23, 2026, more than 40 students and faculty gathered at the University of Waterloo for the inaugural student-led symposium, Humans in the Loop, an event created to bring together research and industry across Human Factors, Ergonomics, and related fields at the university.
This event was hosted by the Waterloo Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Student Chapter and made possible through the organizing efforts of a multidisciplinary team of graduate students. The event showcased research from graduate and undergraduate students, and featured experiences of recent alumni working in industry.
“One of the impetuses for this initiative was to foster deeper discussion of Human Factors and related work across departments, promote opportunities for networking and collaboration, and strengthen the student research community in this field,” said Rachel Woima, Waterloo HFES Student Chapter President.
The symposium was well-received, with attendees expressing appreciation for the thoughtful conversations and the opportunity to share and exchange research with peers.
The Humans in the Loop symposium will return in Winter 2027.
Students and faculty gathered to unite research and industry in human factors, ergonomics, and related topics.