Introduction to Safety Science

David O'Hare is Professor of Psychology at the University of Otago. He joined the department in 1982 after graduating with a First Class Honours degree in psychology (1974) and a PhD (1978) from the University of Exeter followed by a several years lecturing at Lancaster University in the UK. At the same time he became a glider pilot and also obtained a UK Private Pilots Licence becoming increasingly interested in the human-machine relationship involved in aviation. He received a Prince and Princess of Wales award in 1987 and undertook a course in aircraft accident investigation at Cranfield University.

After coming to NZ he started researching aeronautical decision making and spent time as a visiting scholar at The Ohio State University. Subsequently he and Professor Stan Roscoe wrote a book ('Flightdeck Performance: The Human Factor', published 1990) summarising the scientific literature on human perception and performance in aviation. In the ensuing years he has conducted research on a range of issues involving human interaction with technology, aviation safety, aircraft accidents, and pilot decision making with sponsors including the Health Research Council, NZ Civil Aviation Authority, the US Federal Aviation Administration and NASA. He edited the book: "Human Performance in General Aviation" published by Ashgate in 1999.

He was a founder member of the NZ Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and established courses in Human Factors, Cognitive Engineering and Safety Science at the University of Otago. He is on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Aerospace Psychology; the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics and the Journal of Safety Research.