SAFE EVOLUTION
The Council of Evolution Societies (ASN, SSB, SSE) is committed to promoting a safe, inclusive, and professional environment at Evolution Meetings, and ensuring that all activities are free from discrimination, bias or harassment of any type. The SAFE EVOLUTION program was designed to establish standards of appropriate behaviors, to address work-climate related concerns, and to offer support to members who may feel harassed, threatened or unsafe in any way when participating in Joint Meeting programs. If we all engage, we can make the Joint Evolution Meetings a professional and meaningful experience for everyone. SAFE EVOLUTION makes us part of the solution to a persistent problem in academia.
Types of inappropriate behaviors 
  • Exclude - to block someone's access to resources or opportunities, make someone feel unwelcome, based on their identity or affiliation with a particular group 
  • Belittle - to treat someone in a condescending manner or with the assumption of incompetence 
  • Discriminate - to make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of someone based on their identity or affiliation with a particular group 
  • Bully / Intimidate - to threaten, frighten, humiliate, or intimidate someone with abusive words or actions 
  • Harass - to use words or actions that are unwanted, unwelcome, demeaning, degrading abusive or offensive, and to persist in such actions despite resistance, protest, or rebuke by the recipient(s) of those actions  
  • Assault - to make unwelcome physical contact with anyone in any manner, including actual bodily harm and any form of unwanted sexual contact; to threaten bodily harm with an apparent present ability to cause harm
What you can do
Making society-sponsored meetings safe and welcoming to everyone is an important goal. Improving the climate within our societies and at our meetings cannot be imposed; it is an endeavor that needs the engagement and participation of all our members. Here are some concrete ways that everyone can be engaged and increase awareness of the Safe Evolution goals:
  • Know your Policies. By adopting the Conference Policies, including the meeting Code of Conduct and Response Procedures, the three societies have established clear and specific expectations and norms to promote the best meeting climate possible. All three societies are committed to their implementation. All members and attendees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the policies. The best way to promote a positive change is to be able to identify inappropriate behaviors and know how to respond. Bring these policies to the attention of your colleagues and lab groups. ​
  • What constitutes inappropriate behavior? As norms and expectations change, we expect changes in what IS considered acceptable behavior. Issues of behavior and bias are often difficult to talk about, but the most productive discussions happen when we share common goals. Have an open discussion with your lab group members, your fellow faculty, and your fellow students about our ultimate goals as a society and why safe and inclusive society meetings are important. Be explicit in your discussions about what is or is not appropriate behavior and be open to discussions on difference in opinions. 
  • Let’s make this our responsibility. Be an active participant in Safe Evolution! Think about ways you can send the message that the best environment for doing science is one that is fair, equitable and welcoming to all participants. There are many ways to promote discussions, engage in diversity-focused activities, and be proactive—make a positive change for our scientists and our science.
The role of an Evo Ally is to serve as a visible colleague who is available to offer support to Evolution  Meeting participants who are targets of, or who witness, inappropriate behavior. Evo Allies are available to support individuals who have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior in making their own decision about whether or not to report it. Evo Allies do not participate in any aspect of investigating reports or sanctioning. Evo Allies also commit to creating safe spaces at the meeting by serving as active bystanders. 
Report an incident
For a safer Evolution meeting we all need to speak OUT against harassment and other Inappropriate behaviors.
If you need to report an incident of any unprofessional behavior by society members or other individuals affiliated with Evolution-sponsored activities (conference, workshop, publications, etc.), please contact directly our Evolution Safety Officer:

Sherry Marts, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO of S*Marts Consulting, LLC
sherry@smartsconsulting.com; Phone: (202) 670-7746

​Dr. Marts is an independent professional consultant, hired by the Evolution societies to help us create a meeting environment that is inclusive, safe, and welcoming. Dr. Marts is not an evolutionary biologist and does not have any direct personal connection with members of the societies outside her role as our safety officer.  She specializes in strategies to stop harassment and bullying, and has significant experience working with scientific societies to make their meetings safer.
As a safety officer, Dr. Marts will investigate reports of incidents that occur at an Evolution meeting, gather relevant information from all parties, consult confidentially with tri-society executive officers to determine appropriate sanctions and enforcement procedures, maintain records of all reported incidents, and maintain confidentiality of all parties at all times.
More information and resources about inappropriate behaviors in STEM
  • The ADVANCEGeo project has a new comprehensive online resource center for changing climate in STEM workplaces.
  • The National Science Foundation recently issued an announcement that they will not tolerate sexual harassment, or any kind of harassment, within the agency, at grantee organizations, field sites, or anywhere NSF-funded science and education are conducted, and they are bolstering their commitment with a number of steps including new policies and reporting procedures.
  • The American Geophysical Union has been a leader in efforts to curb inappropriate behaviors in STEM, and are establishing a central clearing house for related resources.
  • The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology conducted a review of misconduct in science.
Transparency report
The societies sponsoring the 2017 Evolution meeting in Portland, the 2018 Evolution Congress in Montpellier, and the 2019 Evolution meeting in Providence required all conference participants to agree to a meeting Code of Conduct. The resulting Transparency Report serves to inform attendees and society members about reported incidents, general outcomes of those reports, and steps taken by the societies to further prevent inappropriate behavior at our meetings.
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​Reports
Data on unwelcome behaviors at Evolution meetings
At Evolution 2019, the Code of Conduct Committee presented a poster summarizing data from an IRB-approved survey of members and recent meeting attendees. We asked about their experiences with unwelcome behavior in general and at the Evolution meeting. These data make clear that efforts to reduce inappropriate behavior are needed in our community and at our meeting.

Hotlines and reporting resources

​National Street Harassment Hotline
Operated by RAINN (see below) with Defend Yourself and Stop Street Harassment.
Toll free: 855-897-5910
Live Chat available via the RAINN website.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network)
website
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Live Chat available via the RAINN website
Directory of State Sexual Assault Hotlines
An A-Z directory of crisis centers and hotlines in the US.
Local hotline volunteers will have information about other local resources, including the best way to approach law enforcement and hospitals to get a sympathetic reception.
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via the medium people already use and trust: text. Here’s how it works:
  1. Text 741-741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis.
  2. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds quickly.
  3. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot to a cool moment
​These hotlines are resources available within the USA. Members with suggestions for hotlines and resources available internationally, please contact one of the members of the Code of Conduct Committee with suggestions.
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EVOLUTION 2020