Code of Conduct
Registration for, access to, and participation in any society-sponsored event represents an agreement to abide by the policies below.
Registration for, access to, and participation in any society-sponsored event represents an agreement to abide by the policies below.
1) Policy on harassment and discrimination
Evolution Meetings (in-person and virtual) are intended to foster the respectful exchange of scientific ideas, providing participants with an opportunity to present research findings, establish/renew collaborations, recruit people to their laboratories, and learn, teach, and network with an international community of evolutionary biologists. The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE), the American Society of Naturalists (ASN), and the Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB) (hereafter, “the Societies”) are committed to creating an environment where everyone can participate without experiencing harassment, discrimination, or similar unwelcome, exclusionary behavior. All meeting participants must treat others with respect and consideration. Registration for the meeting is considered an agreement to abide by the Evolution Meetings code of conduct in both virtual and in-person environments.
Harassment of others by any participant (attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, organizer, moderator or meeting guest) will not be tolerated. Unacceptable treatment of others includes (but is not limited to) unwanted verbal attention, unwanted touching, verbal or physical intimidation, stalking, shaming, or bullying. Discrimination or exclusion on the basis of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, physical appearance, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or similar will not be tolerated. Critiques of scientific work are appropriate and important, but all forms of communication must be free of offensive, discriminatory or disrespectful elements, including (but not limited to) words and images that are derogatory or demeaning to individuals or groups [1]. Inappropriate comments presented in a joking manner constitute unacceptable behavior. Retaliation for reporting inappropriate behavior is also unacceptable, as is reporting an incident in bad faith.
People wishing to report a violation of this code of conduct should contact our Safety Officer. Incidents of inappropriate and uncivil behavior are taken extremely seriously. Confidentiality will be maintained unless disclosure is legally required.
Virtual components of the Evolution meeting: Virtual event organizers, Society executive officers and designated event moderators reserve the right to enforce this code of conduct in any manner deemed appropriate. Anyone violating the code of conduct may be: (a) asked to stop, (b) subjected to limits on or revocation of any means of active participation in the virtual event (i.e., muted microphone or blocked video access), (c) ejected from the virtual event, and/or (d) prohibited from attending future virtual or in-person meetings or events. Establishing and enforcing this code of conduct is intended to prevent incidents of harassment, discrimination, and incivility, and to maintain a high quality of scientific discourse.
In-person components of the Evolution meeting: The Evolution meeting organizers, members of the Tri-Society Joint Meeting Committee, Society executive officers, and designated EvoAllies reserve the right to enforce this code of conduct in any manner deemed appropriate. Anyone violating the code of conduct may be: (a) asked to stop, (b) prohibited from posting their presentation on society- or conference-sponsored websites and outlets, (c) expelled from the in-person meeting (without refund), and/or (d) prohibited from attending future in-person or virtual meetings or events. Establishing and enforcing this code of conduct is intended to prevent incidents of harassment, discrimination, and violence, and to maintain the high quality of scientific discourse that our members have come to expect from the Evolution meetings.
Please refer to the Safe Evolution page for detailed information about the Societies’ efforts to create a safe and inclusive environment at our meetings and events.
[1] Disagreements about science are normal and healthy parts of meetings. Civil and constructive criticism of someone’s work for a perceived methodological flaw or a misinterpretation of results is appropriate. Demeaning a scientist for being sloppy, misleading or stupid and other ad hominem attacks are inappropriate.
Harassment of others by any participant (attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, organizer, moderator or meeting guest) will not be tolerated. Unacceptable treatment of others includes (but is not limited to) unwanted verbal attention, unwanted touching, verbal or physical intimidation, stalking, shaming, or bullying. Discrimination or exclusion on the basis of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, physical appearance, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or similar will not be tolerated. Critiques of scientific work are appropriate and important, but all forms of communication must be free of offensive, discriminatory or disrespectful elements, including (but not limited to) words and images that are derogatory or demeaning to individuals or groups [1]. Inappropriate comments presented in a joking manner constitute unacceptable behavior. Retaliation for reporting inappropriate behavior is also unacceptable, as is reporting an incident in bad faith.
People wishing to report a violation of this code of conduct should contact our Safety Officer. Incidents of inappropriate and uncivil behavior are taken extremely seriously. Confidentiality will be maintained unless disclosure is legally required.
Virtual components of the Evolution meeting: Virtual event organizers, Society executive officers and designated event moderators reserve the right to enforce this code of conduct in any manner deemed appropriate. Anyone violating the code of conduct may be: (a) asked to stop, (b) subjected to limits on or revocation of any means of active participation in the virtual event (i.e., muted microphone or blocked video access), (c) ejected from the virtual event, and/or (d) prohibited from attending future virtual or in-person meetings or events. Establishing and enforcing this code of conduct is intended to prevent incidents of harassment, discrimination, and incivility, and to maintain a high quality of scientific discourse.
In-person components of the Evolution meeting: The Evolution meeting organizers, members of the Tri-Society Joint Meeting Committee, Society executive officers, and designated EvoAllies reserve the right to enforce this code of conduct in any manner deemed appropriate. Anyone violating the code of conduct may be: (a) asked to stop, (b) prohibited from posting their presentation on society- or conference-sponsored websites and outlets, (c) expelled from the in-person meeting (without refund), and/or (d) prohibited from attending future in-person or virtual meetings or events. Establishing and enforcing this code of conduct is intended to prevent incidents of harassment, discrimination, and violence, and to maintain the high quality of scientific discourse that our members have come to expect from the Evolution meetings.
Please refer to the Safe Evolution page for detailed information about the Societies’ efforts to create a safe and inclusive environment at our meetings and events.
[1] Disagreements about science are normal and healthy parts of meetings. Civil and constructive criticism of someone’s work for a perceived methodological flaw or a misinterpretation of results is appropriate. Demeaning a scientist for being sloppy, misleading or stupid and other ad hominem attacks are inappropriate.
2) Safety policies
Vaccination and Masking guidelines: TBD - expect an update in early 2023.
Weapons. For the safety of all attendees, the Evolution Meetings are ‘weapons free’ and all conference participants, including staff, volunteers, and attendees, are banned from possessing any object or substance intended to cause injury to others, including but not limited to firearms.
Weapons. For the safety of all attendees, the Evolution Meetings are ‘weapons free’ and all conference participants, including staff, volunteers, and attendees, are banned from possessing any object or substance intended to cause injury to others, including but not limited to firearms.
3) Policy on liability
The Societies shall not be responsible for defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of any participants, and shall not be held liable for or damage of any kind suffered by participants at, or in connection with, the event. By registering for and attending the event, each participant acknowledges that they have read this Disclaimer, and expressly releases the Societies and its board members, directors, officers, employees, or agents from any and all liability in connection with such an event as provided herein.
4) Broadcasting policy
The Societies support communication and discussion of science. Information presented at the event may be reported and discussed by participants, as well as science writers via blogs, Twitter, or other formats. Registration constitutes consent to audio and visual recording (and use and alteration of the recording) by the Societies (or those it authorizes) for non-commercial purposes aligned with the Societies’ missions. However, we ask that recordings of events (in whole or in part) are not posted by participants unless explicit permission is granted by the Societies (note that we grant permission for presenters to record and distribute their own presentation as they wish). Events that are recorded will be announced in advance of their posting by the event organizers, Society executive officers, or their designates.