What you can doVertical Divider
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Report an incidentVertical Divider
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More resourcesVertical Divider
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Code of conduct committeeVertical Divider
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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:
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.
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.
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.
Safety Officer: Kerrell Dunsmore (safeevolution2022@gmail.com, tel: 480-609-3999)
Detailed Reporting Procedures
Our Evolution Safety Officer works for the conference and has filled this role for other scientific conferences. She is not an evolutionary biologist.
Our safety officer 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.
Detailed Reporting Procedures
Our Evolution Safety Officer works for the conference and has filled this role for other scientific conferences. She is not an evolutionary biologist.
Our safety officer 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.
Evo allies
Started in 2019, Evo Allies are members of our community who have been vetted by a safety officer and trained to help support individuals who have experienced or witnessed potentially inappropriate behavior during the conference, including informing them of their options. They commit to creating safe spaces at the meeting by serving as active bystanders. The inspiration for this program came from the https://entoallies.org program.
Anyone, whether an Evo Ally or not, can make a report directly to the meeting safety officer for investigation; Evo Allies are not involved in investigation nor sanctioning, but instead serve as peer supports and help to make the meeting a more welcoming place.
Evo Allies are chosen through a nomination and vetting process; we anticipate that the next call will be for the 2023 meeting. Any vetting process is imperfect; if you have concerns about any Evo Ally, please reach out to the meeting safety officer.
New: Due to the unique nature of the 2022 conference and its covid policies, Evo Allies and meeting staff are empowered to remind participants of the mask mandate and, for participants who endanger others by refusing to wear a mask properly, to call for them to surrender their badges for the rest of the day. These individuals may be readmitted to the conference the next day by picking up their badge again at registration, if there have not been further sanctions placed upon them (which would involve an investigation by the safety officer and ruling by the sanctioning committee).
Started in 2019, Evo Allies are members of our community who have been vetted by a safety officer and trained to help support individuals who have experienced or witnessed potentially inappropriate behavior during the conference, including informing them of their options. They commit to creating safe spaces at the meeting by serving as active bystanders. The inspiration for this program came from the https://entoallies.org program.
Anyone, whether an Evo Ally or not, can make a report directly to the meeting safety officer for investigation; Evo Allies are not involved in investigation nor sanctioning, but instead serve as peer supports and help to make the meeting a more welcoming place.
Evo Allies are chosen through a nomination and vetting process; we anticipate that the next call will be for the 2023 meeting. Any vetting process is imperfect; if you have concerns about any Evo Ally, please reach out to the meeting safety officer.
New: Due to the unique nature of the 2022 conference and its covid policies, Evo Allies and meeting staff are empowered to remind participants of the mask mandate and, for participants who endanger others by refusing to wear a mask properly, to call for them to surrender their badges for the rest of the day. These individuals may be readmitted to the conference the next day by picking up their badge again at registration, if there have not been further sanctions placed upon them (which would involve an investigation by the safety officer and ruling by the sanctioning committee).
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 reports
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 Reports 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.
Reports
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 Reports 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.
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.
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
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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:
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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