Professorial Lecture by Professor Judy Bowen

Tue May 26 2026 at 05:30 pm to 06:30 pm UTC+12:00

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts | Hamilton

The University of Waikato
Publisher/HostThe University of Waikato
Professorial Lecture by Professor Judy Bowen
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Technology is embedded into every part of our lives, but what can we do to make certain that it is reliable, usable and safe?
About this Event

'Being Human in the Age of Technology' by Professor Judy Bowen.

This talk traces a research journey motivated by seemingly simple questions: How do things work? Why do they work? Why don’t they work? How can we make them better? Crucially, how can we be confident that the systems we rely on every day are not only usable, but also behave as expected. When these systems are safety-critical the stakes are even higher, if things go wrong the results may be catastrophic rather than merely inconvenient.

While rigorous formal methods and mathematical models of software can help provide assurance for safety critical systems, they aren’t typically used to consider user interactions and interface design. This talk will describe how understanding human behaviour, capabilities, and limitations provides an essential foundation for the design of interactive systems, particularly in contexts where failure can have serious consequences. Also, how integrating this understanding into formal software development approaches can ensure we design systems that work for real people in real contexts of use. Through examples drawn from medical devices and hazardous outdoor work environments it illustrates how formal software development techniques are most effective when grounded in realistic models of human interaction.

The talk will conclude by returning to the growing area of health technology and the ever-changing nature of technology and its uses, reflecting on how insights gained across diverse domains can inform the next generation of interactive, safety critical systems. Throughout, the emphasis is on bridging disciplines, connecting people, models, and technology, to build systems we can justifiably trust.


This 45-minute public lecture will be held at the at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, starting at 5.45pm. Ticket scanning and Opus Bar will be open from 5pm.

Free parking is available on campus via Gate 2B, Knighton Road, Hamilton from 4.30pm.

Please register your attendance by clicking on the 'select tickets' button above and bring your eticket, with you on the evening to be scanned.

If you would like to hear from us about future Public Lectures held at the University of Waikato, please join click to join our mailing list.



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is a Professor in Software Engineering in Au Reikura / School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Waikato. Originally from South Wales, Judy moved to New Zealand in 1999 and completed her MSc and PhD at the University of Waikato, both focussed on the use of formal methods for interactive system design. Her research spans the disciplines of software engineering and human-computer interaction, and focusses on interactive system design, model-driven development and testing, and the impacts of ubiquitous technology, wearable technology and IoT solutions on end-users. She leads the Human-Centred Computing group at the University of Waikato and has run projects on wearable technology in the workplace, medical device design and model-driven development.


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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

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