President’s Column: SIOP Sponsors the Board on Human-Systems Integration (BOHSI) at the National Academies

As the saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.

In this spirit, I am delighted to share that SIOP is now a core sponsor of the Board on Human-Systems Integration (BOHSI), part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. SIOP members have long been contributing their expertise to BOHSI: Drs. Steve Kozlowski and Eduardo Salas were past members of BOHSI, and Drs. Fred Oswald and Tara Behrend currently serve on BOHSI, with Dr. Oswald as its current chair. As a core sponsor, SIOP will strengthen its external impact by advancing the science of workplace psychology through partnership with like-minded organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA), Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Aeronautics and Atmospheric Administration (NASA), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). You can learn more about BOHSI at https://www.nationalacademies.org/bohsi/about. 

BOHSI and sponsors investigate and address important issues that are relevant to SIOP members. Some of the current interests and research topics covered in BOHSI meetings and projects include:

1. Future of work and equitable AI: BOHSI held a recent webinar series on “The Future of Work,” emphasizing equitable artificial intelligence (AI) use in frontline work, reskilling for future roles, and addressing mental health impacts. This series, co-organized with SIOP and other professional societies, underscored the importance of inclusive technology practices.
2. Artificial intelligence and human factors: BOHSI has several ongoing projects around AI, including the “Human and Organizational Factors in AI Risk Management” workshop series. Discussions focus on risk management, human oversight, and ethical considerations in AI deployment across sectors.
3. Workforce modeling and organizational planning: During the fall BOHSI meeting, representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presented on workforce modeling efforts, aiming to improve staffing and planning in air traffic control and related fields. 
4. Safety culture in high-risk industries: The board recently hosted a webinar titled “Enhancing Safety through Social Sciences: Insights for Industry,” covering strategies to strengthen safety in sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, and oil and gas. Key topics included leadership’s role in safety compliance, barriers in dynamic environments, and strategies for risk reduction through behavioral science insights.

Sponsoring BOHSI provides significant national impact and visibility for SIOP, as a key partnership that enhances the influence of I-O psychology and advances our strategic goals. Some of the areas where a partnership with BOSHI helps us include:

1. Increased influence in policy and systems design: One of BOHSI’s key purposes is to support policy-shaping initiatives that influence how human factors and organizational psychology are integrated within technical systems. By aligning with BOHSI, SIOP gains a louder voice in national discussions, enhancing our ability to shape policies affecting workforce development, organizational practices, and human–technology interaction.
2. Opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration: BOHSI launches and facilitates interdisciplinary opportunities and partnerships that span psychology, ergonomics, cognitive science, health, engineering, and AI. Therefore, this collaboration opens avenues for joint projects and innovative research that may not have been accessible otherwise.
3. Insight into emerging trends and best practices: BOHSI’s work on high-priority areas—such as AI, team science, smart city technologies, and safety in high-risk environments—helps keep SIOP members’ expertise and the voice of I-O psychology at the forefront of emerging national issues and trends. 
4. Enhanced professional development and visibility: BOHSI sponsorship brings professional development opportunities for SIOP members, including participation in BOHSI-sponsored workshops, panels, and webinars, which highlight SIOP’s expertise on the national stage.
5. Access to new research and funding opportunities: BOHSI’s network of partnerships with federal agencies and industry leaders allows I-O psychology to understand and contribute to research topics that are of high priority and are receiving research attention and funding. Through participation in the conversations and insights shared at BOHSI meetings, SIOP will have better information about cutting-edge collaborative projects and sources for potential research funding.

Please be on the lookout for BOHSI related opportunities, where you can learn and contribute to this community of researchers and practitioners committed to excellent work-related science with national impact. 

Let’s go far by going together!