Preface to the Special Section

This special edition contains several of the keynote addresses presented at IEA2012, the 18th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA). This was a truly international event with attendees from more than 49 countries. Those of us who attended IEA2012 witnessed an important point in history. This was the first IEA Congress to be held in Latin America, which drew more than 300 attendees from the region. The decision to hold this IEA Congress in this part of the world showed the foresight of the IEA officers and council who made that decision and the courage of the Assocação Brasileira de Ergonomia (ABERGO) for taking on this groundbreaking challenge. The location, representation, and diverse content reflected the current global realities, growth potential, and composition of the IEA.