This Code of Conduct is intended to set clear expectations of behavior at the AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 Joint Meeting to ensure that all participants feel safe and welcome and that AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 is a positive experience for all.
The partner societies welcome everyone to AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 and celebrate diversity in all its forms. The AFO, WOS, and SCO-SOC are dedicated to providing an inclusive environment that is collaborative, supportive, and engaging for everyone involved and that is free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We expect all participants to help in this mission by being respectful and considerate of each other, providing supportive critique, and embracing the multitude of opinions that are on offer.
Meeting Scope
AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 is intended to foster the open and honest communication of ornithological science and to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for all participants. Effective communication requires courteous interactions and respect for the intellectual property of our colleagues. We represent the field of ornithology, and it is imperative that we behave as professionals toward all conference participants, including, but not limited to, conference delegates, society employees, conference volunteers, sponsors, and exhibitors.
All forms of communication among AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 participants during the meeting are considered within the scope of the AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 meeting and thus fall under the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct. These include public and private communications, social media posts and direct messages, phone calls, and other forms of written, verbal, and non-verbal (including visual) communication. Additionally, communication as described above that occurs before or after the AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 meeting but that pertains to content associated with the meeting and/or relies on contact information of a meeting participant was procured before or during the meeting may also fall under the purview of this Code of Conduct.
Expectations of Participants
Harassment between participants of AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 will not be tolerated in any form. Harassment includes any communication with or behavior towards another participant that involves offensive gestures, verbal and written comments, posts on the internet and social media, deliberate intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical or electronic contact, microaggressions, and unwelcome attention. It is possible to engage in harassment without the intention of doing so. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior by anyone are expected to comply immediately, regardless of their intent.
Use of Media Associated With the Meeting
By registering for and attending this Meeting, Participants agree to allow AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 to use photos, videos, or audio recordings taken of them during the Meeting in publications, promotions, and on the websites and social media pages of the participating societies. Only participating Societies may (a) take/make or distribute audio or video recordings of the Meeting or Participants or (b) distribute them (via social media or other means).
Participants wishing to share information from the Event and/or post photos via social media, whether of their own material or that of others, must adhere to individual social media platforms’ stated rules and policies. We ask that presenters and hosts of Events that do not want content or information shared via social media clearly communicate this to members of the audience and that members of the audience adhere to such requests.
Reporting an Incident
Any individual covered by the Code of Conduct who believes that they have been subjected to harassment, notices that someone else is being harassed, or has any other concerns about an individual’s behavior should report the incident immediately. Similarly, any breaches of the Code associated with media use should be reported immediately. Potential violations of the Meeting Code of Conduct should be reported promptly to the AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 Safe Meeting Committee via SAFE_AFOSCOWOS24@googlegroups.com for review. All complaints will be treated seriously and reviewed promptly, and may be investigated. To contact the Safe Meeting Committee, please use the group email, which will go to the entire committee.
Bad faith reporting under the Code of Conduct will be considered a violation of the Code of Conduct, where bad faith reporting is defined as intentionally false and/or malicious reporting of code of conduct violations against another attendee.
Disciplinary Action
Individuals found to have engaged in behavior prohibited by this policy, as well as those making allegations of a breach of the Code in bad faith, will be subject to disciplinary action. The AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 Safe Meeting Committee may take any action they deem appropriate, ranging from a verbal warning or ejection/prohibition from the specific activity in question (e.g., workshop, symposium, or even the entire conference), banning them from future conferences run or jointly run[by the partner societies, revoking membership in one or more of the partner societies, and/or the reporting of their behavior to their employer and research funders.
Retaliation Is Prohibited
AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 will not tolerate any form of retaliation—including seeking to violate the confidentiality of a reporting individual—against individuals who file a complaint or assist in an investigation or against any individuals suspected of doing so. Retaliation is a serious violation of this policy and, like any breach of the Code itself, will be subject to disciplinary action.
Questions & Appeal
Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to the AFO/SCO-SOC/WOS 2024 Safe Meeting Committee. In the event that an individual involved in any reported incident is dissatisfied with the disciplinary action, they may appeal to a committee made of the collective members of the executive committees from partnering societies.