Michael Griffin

Professor Michael Griffin was a distinguished academic in Human Factors at the University of Southampton, leading the Human Factors Research Unit within the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research. He held the academic rank of Professor of Human Factors since 1991 and contributed significantly to vibration research. His work influenced international standards and industry practices, focusing on human responses to whole-body vibration, hand-transmitted vibration, and low-frequency motion.

Griffin earned his PhD from the University of Southampton's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research in 1972, progressing through roles as a Research Fellow, Lecturer (1977), and Senior Lecturer (1984) before becoming Professor. His teaching included courses like 'Human Factors in Engineering' and 'Human Responses to Vibration.'

His research pioneered metrics such as the 'vibration dose value' (VDV), 'SEAT value,' and 'motion sickness dose value' (MSDV), enhancing safety in transportation and occupational settings. He authored over 600 publications, including the seminal 'Handbook of Human Vibration,' and contributed to global committees like the British Standards Institution and ISO.

Professor Griffin received prestigious awards for his contributions, including the Bartlett Medal (1984), RWB Stephens Medal (2007), and Taylor Award (2011). His legacy includes advancements in vibration measurement tools (e.g., HVLab instruments) and insights into motion sickness and ergonomic design. He passed away in 2019, leaving a lasting impact on human factors engineering.