Professor Karen Carr MA, MSc, PhD, C Psychol
Location: MH263
E: k.carr@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 1793 785644
Department of Management and Security
Current activities
Karen teaches cognitive and behavioural topics applied to diverse areas, including:
Strategic Thinking
- Leadership
- Engineering
- Management
- Acquisition
These topics are currently offered as part of the current MSc and Defence Education programmes at the Defence Academy.
Karen also offers specific resources, courses and lectures on:
- Thinking skills
- Developing agile intelligence in individuals, teams and organisations
- Psychology for Leaders and Managers
- Human Capability Acquisition
- Human Factors Engineering (Situational Awareness, Mental Workload, Information Exploitation, Accident Investigation, Simulation, Uninhabited Systems, Human-Machine Interface)
- Human Factors Integration (Organisations and Processes for delivering Human Factors Engineering)
A range of educational resources is under development in these areas to support experiential, self-directed and interactive learning.
Karen is Module Manager for Psychology of Leadership on the Defence Leadership MSc and Course Director for the Executive MBA (Defence).
Current Research Activities include:
- The development of thinking skills, with a particular focus on non-conscious intelligence
- Understanding and dealing with complexity
- Cognitive Fitness education and training in Defence (with Lt Col Laurence Williams)
- Multi-disciplinary Networks Methodology (with Dr Adam Zagorecki)
- Human Capability acquisition and management (with Dr Emma Sparks)
Clients
Research, Teaching and Consultancy clients include:
MoD (DE&S, Defence Science and Technology, Doctrine and Concepts Development Centre, Chief of the Defence Staff, Dstl, RAF, British Army), DoD, MBDA, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Airbus, and Boeing.
Background
Karen is a psychologist and a human factors engineer with degrees in Psychology (MA, Edinburgh) and Ergonomics (MSc, Birmingham), and an MoD-sponsored PhD in Experimental Psychology. Karen spent 21 years in defence industry, initially carrying out human factors research in the areas such as Human-Machine Interface, information management, design processes and tools, and synthetic environments. This work was mainly for application to Command and Control, battlefield digitization, military cockpits and control stations, training and maintainability. Karen managed several large in-house research projects and provided consultancy support for a range of bids and programmes.
In 2000, Karen became Head of the Human Factors research department in BAE Systems, managing a team of 26 Human Factors Engineers. In 2002 she moved into BAE Systems’ Head Office to take on a role as Director of Capability within Strategic Business Development.
Karen joined Cranfield University at the Defence Academy in November 2006 as Director of the Centre for Human Systems. In 2011 she joined the Department of Management and Security.
She has participated in several government and international advisory groups, including: Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC), Defence Aviation Human Factors Working Group, Council for Aeronautics in Europe (ACARE) working group on ‘Safety in global civil air transport’, Human Factors National Advisory Council, NATO AGARD Working Group on ‘Alternative Control Technologies’. She was Managing Director and co-founder of Interface Technology Research Ltd (ITR), which won DTI SMART awards in 1994 and 1995 for prototype human-computer interface technology.
Selected publications
Publications
Carr, K. (2009) Acquisition Issues: Operational Lesson-Sharing for Defence Acquisition RUSI Defence Systems, Jun 2009, Vol. 12, No. 1 http://www.rusi.org/publications/defencesystems/ref:A4A37B40E62396/
Carr, K. (2009) A Wicked Rose, RUSI Defence Systems, Oct 2009, vol 12, No. 2 http://www.rusi.org/publications/defencesystems/ref:A4AF198C5A4F5C/
Carr, K. (2008) Human Factors and Effective C4ISTAR, Article in RUSI C4ISTAR Conference Programme, Brighton, 2-3 October, 2008. Also at: Human Factors and effective C4ISTAR
Carr, K. (2007) Evolution and Design in Human Systems: the implications for NEC. NECworks, 2, 2007, PA Consulting. Also at: The NEC Designer
Carr, K. (2007) Warrior Attributes. Discussion Paper for Centre for Human Systems.
Carr, K, Leggatt, A. and McGuinness, B. (2006) Human Centric Framework, Study of the Comprehensive Approach, MoD Contract No: RT/COM/4/5042, Report BAES-FSBD-SHRIV-RP-00005, 16 May 2006
Joint US Defense Science Board and UK Defence Scientific Advisory Council Task Force (2004), Advanced Command Environments, in Defense Critical Technologies Office of the Secretary of Defense, March 2004 http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2006-03-Defense_Critical_Technologies.pdf
Carr, K., Leggatt, A., Gowing, C. and McGuinness, B.(2004) Human-Centric Framework Assessment of the Joint Operations Picture, Proof of Concept Study MoD contract No: CB/PJHQ/014, Report BAES-FSGN-COMM-AS-00229, 21/11/2004
Carr K (1999) Command and control in the digitized battlespace: position paper for Sowerby Research Centre Human Factors Department. British Aerospace Report Number JS14311, 1999-11-25
Carr K, and Carver E. (1997) Pathfinder project. Design metrics for virtual reality interfaces. Phase 2: Final Report. British Aerospace Report Number JS13715, 1997-05-25
Carr, K and England R (1996) Apparatus and Method for providing Resistance or Force Feedback to a Human Body Surface, Patent Publication No.: WO/1997/017649,. Publication Date: 15.05.1997, International Application No. PCT/GB1996/002656 International Filing Date: 01.11.1996
Gale, A., Carr, K. and Moorhead, I. (1995) Visual Search 3, London: Taylor & Francis, 1995
Aldridge, R.J., Carr, K., England, R., Meech, J.F. and Solomonides, A. (1996) Getting a grasp on virtual reality, CHI 96, ACM G Press, April 1996
Carr K.T. and England R.D. (1996) Design Metrics for Virtual Reality Interfaces Phase 1 Main Report: Foundation Study, British Aerospace Report Number JS13466, 1996-06-25
Working Group 25 of the AGARD Aerospace Medical Panel (1998) Alternative Control Technologies, AGARD –27921 Research and Technology Organization, Human Factors and Medicine Panel, Dec 1998, Report No.: RTO-TR-7;AC/323(HFM)TP/3
Carr K.T. (1995) Pilot questionnaire - optimising HUDs on civil flight decks. British Aerospace Report Number JS13271
Carr. K. and England, R. (1995) Simulated and Virtual Realities: The Elements of Perception, London: Taylor & Francis, 1995
Carr K.T. (1994) Intelligent sensing sensor fusion and supervisory control. Project deliverable D16: final report on supervisor experiments. British Aerospace Report Number JS13000, 1994-10-25
Gale, A., Brogan, D. and Carr, K. (1993) Visual Search 2, London: Taylor & Francis, 1993
England, R.D. and Carr, K.T. The role of realism in virtual reality. VR ’93 The Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference on Virtual Reality, 1993, pp.24-33. London: Meckler
Carr K.T. (1993) Stereo visual information and mental rotation. British Aerospace Report Number JS12534, 1993-05-25
Carr K.T. (1992) Virtual reality for BAE: a human factors perspective. British Aerospace Report Number JS12204, 1992-08-25
England, R.D. Edgar, G.K. and Carr, K.T. (1992) Human Factors in Virtual Worlds: (2) Enabling Interaction and Performance., IEE Colloquium on using Virtual Worlds, 15 April 1992, 1992, Pages: 4/1-4/5
Carr K.T . (1992) The Advanced Cockpit Research Programme. Sowerby Research Centre 1988 to 1992. British Aerospace Report Number JS12115
Edgar, G.D., Carr, K.T, Williams, M. and Clarke, A.L. (1991) The Effects Upon Visual Performance of Varying Binocular Overlap, AGARD-CP-SI7 May 1991 Conference on Helmet Mounted Displays and Night Vision Goggles, December 1991, pp. 8-1 - 8-15. Pensacola, Florida, US
Carr K.T. (1990) Visual cues in airborne computer generated imagery. British Aerospace Report Number JS11368, 1990-10-25
Carr, K.T. (1990) An investigation into the effects of a simulated thermal cueing aid upon air-to-ground search performance, in D. Brogan (Ed.) Visual Search, 1990, London: Taylor & Francis
Carr K. T. (1989) The visual accommodation response and implications for display design. British Aerospace Report Number JS11324, 1989-09-25
Carr K.T. (1989) An overview of tactical considerations for advanced fighter aircraft and some human factors design implications. British Aerospace Report Number JS11128, 1989-01-25
Carr K. T. (1988) An investigation into the effects of a simulated thermal cueing aid upon air-to-ground search performance. British Aerospace Report Number JS11010, 1988-02-25
Carr K.T., Bell J.B. (1987) Investigation of biological shape primitives for image understanding. MOD contract ML31b/1175. Final report. British Aerospace Report Number JS10836, 1987-05-25
Carr K.T. (1986) An investigation into the acquisition of short-range targets in visual search. British Aerospace Report Number JS10693, 1986-10-25
Carr K.T. (1986) Observer variability in visual search with redundant stimuli, in O.J. Oborne (Ed), Contemporary Ergonomics, 1986, pp. 274-278, London: Taylor & Francis
Carr K.T. (1986) Visual search and scene content distribution Part II: Eye movement strategies. British Aerospace Report Number JS10656, 1986-06-25
Carr K.T. (1986) Visual search and scene content distribution. Part 1: search times. British Aerospace Report Number JS10545, 1986-02-25
Carr, K.T. Megaw, E.D. and Goillau, P.J. (1983) Movements and Visual Search: A Bibliography, Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, Malvern, England, Eye Accession Number ADA129422, Jan 1983 (obtainable via http://www.ntis.gov/)
Presentations
Carr, K. (2009) Cognitive Fitness for the Military, presented at ITEC 2009, 12-14 May 2009, Brussels Expo (received excellence award).
Carr, K. (2009) Human Centric Warfare: Military Operations As Complex Systems, invited presentation at Network Centric Warfare Europe, Defence IQ, 25 - 29 May 2009 , Cologne
Carr, K. (2008) ‘Why the Human Component In Every Defence Line of Development Is Important For NEC - And Essential For Coherent NEC?’ RUSI C4ISTAR Conference Programme, Brighton, 2-3 October, 2008
Carr, K. (2008) C4ISR Technology and Human Behaviour- The Operational Challenges, 3rd Annual C4ISTAR Conference, Marcus Evans, Brussels, 16-18 January, 2008
Carr, K. (2006) Acquiring Capability: A new imperative for Human Factors, Invited presentation to Human Factors in Defence, London, SMi, 14th-15th June 2006
Carr, K. (2006) Integrating technical and non-technical interoperability for information sharing, presentation to Joint and Coalition Interoperability, Prague, SMi, 17-18th May 2006
Carr, K. (2005) Protecting Mission Command from Information Dominance. Invited presentation to Vision 2005: Information Superiority: The Key to NEC. Shephard, 8-9 November 2005
Dean, Gp Capt. T. and Carr, K. (2005) Thinking NEC: Education for a Systems Mindset. Invited presentation to Vision 2005: Information Superiority: The Key to NEC. Shephard, 8-9 November 2005
Carr, K. (2005) Technical and Non-technical Interoperability: Why they cannot be separated. Presented at NEC – The Human Dimension: Preparing for Coalition, 25-26 October 2005, Defence Academy, Shrivenham
Carr, K. (2005) Information Management: Behavioural and Cultural Issues. Guest lecture to the Information Management course at the Defence College of Management and Technology, Shrivenham, 27th July 2005
Carr, K. (2004) Human Factors in Network-Enabled Capability, guest lecture to "Network Enabled Capability - The UK Vision for NCW" at the Royal Military College at Shrivenham, 29 Nov – 3 Dec, 2004
Carr, K. (2004) Situational Awareness in Support of Military Capability, invited presentation at the ‘SA Coherence’ CC&II Technical Seminar, 23rd Nov 2004, Nelson Conference Centre, Malvern Technology Park
Carr, K. (2004) Warrior Attributes within NEC, paper presented at NEC – The Human Dimension: Culture, Trust, Awareness and Understanding, 17-18 November, 2004, The Defence Academy, Shrivenham
Carr, K. (2004) Human Factors Implications of Future Capability, invited presentation to Future Aviation Technology Exhibition, MoD DPA Future Support Environment, 29 June 2004
Carr’ K. (2004) Human-Centric Framework: A view on Human Issues for the JOP Environment, invited presentation at Exercise Brilliant Thunder, 4-5th May, 2004, Larkhill Garrison
Carr, K. (2003) Human centric approach to ISTAR, Invited presentation to VISION 2003 The ISTAR Challenge, Sheppard, 20 Oct 2003
Carr, K. (2003) A human-centric perspective on future technology, Invited presentation to Future Aviation Technology Exhibition, organized by DPA Future Support Environment, 2 October 2003
Carr, K. (2003) Preserving and enhancing the human contribution to military capability, Invited presentation to Whither Command and Control in the Network-Enabled Era – Analysis of Emerging Concepts for the UK Armed Forces Seminar, held by JDCC/General Dynamics, JSCSC, 14-15 April 2003
Carr, K. (2001) Human Factors Integration Challenges for the new defence environment, Invited presentation to Human Factors Integration Symposium, MoD, November 2001
Carr, K. (2000) Human Factors: another revolution in military affairs? Invited presentation to Digitization of the Battlespace, RUSI, 17 November 2000
