OSM Code of Conduct

About the code of conduct

The Ocean Sciences Meeting, open to AGU, ASLO and TOS members and those interested in marine sciences, is among the most respected scientific meetings in the ocean sciences community. The organizers strive to convene events, online and in-person, that are respectful, inclusive, and collaborative for all who attend. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, AGU, ASLO and TOS staff, service providers, and others are expected to abide by this Ocean Sciences Meeting Code of Conduct. This code of conduct applies to all Ocean Sciences Meeting-related events, including those sponsored by organizations other than AGU, ASLO and TOS but held in conjunction with Ocean Sciences Meeting events, in public or private facilities.

Expected behavior

  1. Treat everyone with respect.
  2. Be considerate and collaborative.
  3. Communicate openly with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
  4. Focus on constructive, intellectual conversation.
  5. Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.
  6. Provide your true professional identity, affiliation, and, where appropriate, contact information, at registration, and during attendance and participatory sessions, as required.
  7. Respect copying and use of presented materials and ideas as indicated by the OSM Social Media and Photography Guidelines including knowing when you may need to obtain permission regarding copying materials.
  8. Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue, hotels, Ocean Sciences Meeting contracted facility, online platform, or any other venue.
  9. Be Accountable: When we as organizers or participants fail to meet these guidelines, work together to identify problems and adjust policy and practice together.

Unacceptable Behavior

Anyone not meeting expected, collaborative, respectful behavior can be immediately removed from the current online or physical meeting and may be banned from OSM meetings or other sanctions, depending on the specifics of the unwelcomed disruptive behavior. The following are examples of behaviors are not tolerated at the Ocean Sciences Meeting and events:

  1. Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discrimination in any form in-person, at online events, or on social media;
  2. Physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, AGU, ASLO or TOS staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest
  3. Examples include, but are not limited to comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking a person attending or working the meeting.
  4. Disruption of talks at oral or poster sessions, in the exhibit hall, or at other events online or in-person organized by AGU, ASLO or TOS at the meeting venue, hotels, or online platform or other Ocean Sciences Meeting-contracted facilities.
  5. Criminal offenses
  6. Failure to follow meeting protocol
  7. Physical or verbal abuse, including attacks on ideas vs. respectful, disagreeing dialogue.
  8. Use of social or mainstream media to target individual actions of participants in a way that could harm their privacy or professional status or open them to slander or libel.
  9. Knowingly violating copyright, or copying presenter information without obtaining permission, if necessary, as outlined in OSM Social Media and Photography Guidelines.

Consequences and reporting unacceptable behavior

Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. Co-sponsoring society staff (or their designee) or security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund.

AGU, ASLO and TOS reserve the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting. Individuals are subject to other consequences as set forth in AGU's Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics Policy, as applicable.

Co-sponsoring society staff wearing “Safe OSM” buttons onsite are trained to assist you if you need to report a harassment or other safety/security issue. Contacts for staff or their designees online will be available to assist with online concerns.

If you are subject to or witness unacceptable behavior, please immediately notify a co-sponsoring society staff member or AGU, ASLO or TOS volunteer in a leadership position.

You may also email your concern to Victoria Forlini (vforlini@agu.org),Helen Schneider Lemay (business@aslo.org), or Jennifer Ramarui (jenny@tos.org).

If you experience or witness behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety onsite, contact 911 and locate a house phone and ask for security.

Acknowledgement and agreement to abide by the Code of Conduct is required at registration for any online or on-site event.

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