We are pleased to share that Magnus Liebherr has been elected as the new Speaker of the Division of Engineering Psychology within the German Psychological Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie, DGPs) e.V.

This appointment marks an exciting step for the division. Magnus expressed his gratitude to all members for the trust placed in him and emphasized his enthusiasm for shaping the future of engineering psychology together with the newly elected board members Linda Onnasch, Johannes Kraus, Ilka Hein, and Gina Nathalie Schnücker.

In his new role, Magnus is committed to strengthening the visibility of engineering psychology, fostering interdisciplinary exchange, and providing a platform for innovative research and applied solutions. The division will continue to address central challenges at the intersection of psychology and technology, such as automation, artificial intelligence, and digitalization—always with the goal of making complex systems safer, more usable, and more human-centered. Magnus also highlighted the outstanding contributions of the previous leadership team. Special thanks go to Christiane Attig, Thomas Franke, and Steffen Hösterey, whose dedication over the past years laid the foundation for the division’s continued success. With this transition, the Division of Engineering Psychology looks forward to a period of fruitful collaboration, fresh perspectives, and continued growth. Together with the entire board and membership, the division is well positioned to drive the field forward and to contribute meaningfully to both science and practice.

After a year of preparation, the AOWI 2025 Conference in Lüneburg brought together the Divisions of Work, Organizational, and Business Psychology and the Division of Engineering Psychology of the German Psychological Society (DGPs) e.V. for four days of inspiring input, lively discussions, and fresh perspectives. The conference once again demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary dialogue, particularly around pressing topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and human-technology interaction.

The program was shaped by a wide range of sessions, symposia, and interactive formats, all of which created space for exchange between researchers, practitioners, and students. A particularly enriching aspect was the intensive debate on the identity and future of engineering psychology and its role in a rapidly changing technological landscape. We actively involved in several parts of the conference:

• Together with Laura Venz, Franziska Josefine Kößler, and Thomas Franke, Magnus co-organizing the overall event.
• Magnus joined a panel discussion organized by Tobias Rieger, where he, alongside Annette Kluge, Linda Onnasch, Marlene Wessels, and Tim Schrills, discussed the identity and future directions of engineering psychology.
• Verena presented her work on "Automation in the Maritime Sector: The Role of Ergonomic Human–Machine Interfaces and Additional Factors Influencing Mental Workload.” Her contribution highlighted how thoughtful interface design and contextual conditions shape operator performance and well-being in highly automated environments.
• Within the symposium on Human–AI Interaction, organized by Tim Schrills and Thomas Franke, Magnus contributed with a cognitive perspective on human interaction with intelligent systems.
• The interactive forum “AI in the World of Work”, co-organized with Linda Onnasch, Johannes Kraus, Tim Schrills, and Markus Langer, attracted an overwhelming number of participants and highlighted the strong interest in the implications of AI for working life.

With its broad range of perspectives and its spirit of collaboration, AOWI 2025 provided valuable impulses for research and practice in psychology and beyond. The conference reaffirmed the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue in addressing the challenges and opportunities that arise from technological change.

The community is already looking forward to AOWI 2027, which may even take place beyond the borders of Germany

We are delighted to share a significant academic achievement: Magnus Liebherr has successfully completed the final part of his Habilitation at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Engineering. The process included the scientific lecture, teaching lecture, and colloquium. With these steps accomplished, Magnus now awaits the official awarding of the title and certificate. 
While this accomplishment represents an important personal milestone, it also signals the beginning of a new chapter in research and teaching. At the core of Magnus’s academic vision lies the conviction that the human perspective must remain central to technology development.

With his Habilitation, Magnus emphasizes his responsibility to bridge the gap between science and practice. His goal is to provide insights that support academia, industry, and society in designing technologies that empower people rather than overwhelm them. Together with colleagues, students, and partners from both research and practice, Magnus looks forward to continuing this journey, exploring how humans and technology can evolve in meaningful, responsible, and human-centered ways.

From June 2nd to 5th our working group had the pleasure of attending the IEEE Conference on Cognitive and Computational Aspects of Situation Management (CogSIMA), hosted this year at the Mercator Haus of the University of Duisburg-Essen. 

It was a special experience to take part in such a dynamic international conference right here in Duisburg. The program offered a wide range of talks, panels, and discussions on cognitive systems, intelligent technologies, and human-centered design. Beyond the academic exchange, it was a joy to reconnect with colleagues, engage in new conversations, and be part of an interdisciplinary community working toward safer, more adaptive, and more trustworthy systems. 

Our team contributed three papers to this year’s conference. The first contribution was presented by Eva Gößwein and explored how the acceptance of an eco-driving app is influenced by user trust, environmental awareness, and cognitive flexibility. The second contribution by Verena Staab, presented by Magnus Liebherr, examined how adaptable AI systems can foster trust, fairness, and user control, which are key aspects of responsible AI design. The third contribution, presented by Markus Nieradzik, introduced a collaborative robot system for semi-automated liquid cargo handling in inland shipping, with a focus on safety and situational awareness in human-robot interaction. 

A special thanks goes to all co-authors, collaborators, and the conference organizers for making CogSIMA 2025 such a successful and enriching event. We are returning with valuable insights and new inspiration, and we look forward to continuing the conversations and collaborations sparked during these exciting days in Duisburg. 

How do we get people to drive more sustainably? That’s the question we tackled in one of our contributions to CogSIMA 2025. 

In our study, we looked at how people respond to an eco-driving app and what influences their willingness to actually use it.

Beyond technical factors like ease of use and usefulness, we found that trust in the technology, a person’s environmental mindset and their cognitive flexibility all play a major role in shaping sustainable driving intentions. 

It was exciting to bring together insights from psychology and human-technology interaction and to see how mindset and design come together to support more sustainable behavior on the road. This contribution adds to the growing conversation on how digital tools can help us meet climate goals. 

The paper was co-authored by Eva Gößwein, Julia Braun, Jana Thin, and Magnus Liebherr.

A key question addressed in our CogSIMA 2025 contribution was what builds trust in AI systems. The results highlight adaptability as a central element.

In our experiment we compared decision support systems that were either adaptable or fixed. People who were able to adjust the system to their needs felt more in control and saw it as fairer and more transparent. This also led to greater trust, which increased their willingness to use the system. 

The findings underline the relevance of user experience in the design of interactive AI systems. It’s not just about making AI smarter or more explainable it’s about making it more responsive to the people using it. 

Thanks to Verena Staab, Ilka Hein, Maike Ramrath, Lea Schlüter, Alina Stuckstätte, Maximilian Hohn, Philipp Sieberg, and Magnus Liebherr for their collaboration on this work.