About

Code of Conduct

Experimental Biology (EB) is committed to providing a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for all event participants. It is EB’s policy that all forms of discrimination and harassment, sexual or otherwise, are prohibited in any EB events or activities.

EB participants (participants include sponsors, exhibitors, staff, attendees, venue employees and employees from other support suppliers) are expected to help us ensure a safe and positive conference experience for everyone and to abide by this Code of Conduct while participating in EB.

All EB participants must register for the meeting and obey all applicable laws, meeting and venue policies.

Our aim in hosting an EB event is to build a stronger community. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels welcome to participate, speak up, ask questions, and engage in conversation. We invite all those who participate to help us create a safe and positive experiences for everyone.

We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free, inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, personal characteristics, political ideology/identity, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Sexual language or imagery is not appropriate during any aspect of this conference, including talks, workshops, social media such as Twitter, or other online media.

Following a Code of Conduct allows EB to create the best experience possible for all attendees. All participants are expected to:

Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions.
Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.
Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants.

Unacceptable Behaviors

During EB or any of its related events no participant should engage in harassment in any form. Unacceptable behaviors include:

Disrupting the meeting or engaging in harm or threats of harm of any kind.
Creating/contributing to a safety threat or unsafe or exclusionary situation.
Making audio or visual recordings of the meeting in any medium or distributing audio or visual recordings of the meeting (via social media or any other means). Only EB or its representatives may do so.
Photographing slides of oral presentations and posters without the express permission of the presenter/author.
Engaging in intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions by any participant.
Making harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or using visual images related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, personal characteristics, political ideology/identity, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof). Using inappropriate nudity and/or sexual images (including presentations, slides, or video chats).
Deliberately engaging in intimidation, micro-aggression, stalking, or following.
Making real or implied threats of physical, professional, or financial harm.
Retaliating against an individual for reporting discrimination or harassment.
Intentionally filing a false report of discrimination or harassment.

Participants violating these rules may be expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of EB. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

What to Do if You Observe or Experience Conduct That Violates the Code of Conduct

Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety, or a criminal act is expected to contact 911. Those witnessing a potential criminal act should also take actions necessary to maintain their own personal safety.
If you are the recipient of unacceptable behavior, you should feel free to speak up without any fear of retaliation.
Contact the ombudsman at safeconferences@gmail.com, call 240-772-1205 or fill out this form if you notice behavior that violates this Code of Conduct. All reports will be kept confidential to the extent possible while allowing for effective investigation and response.
EB will limit disclosure of information that is necessary to ensure proper investigation and compliance with procedures.
EB Management will follow up with the complainant to inform them of any course of action taken.

We value your participation with EB and want your experience to be professionally rewarding and personally enjoyable.

Reporting Harassment

If you wish to report discrimination or harassment you have witnessed or experienced, you may do so by contacting the EB ombudsman at safeconferences@gmail.com, by calling 240-772-1205 or by filling out this form. You are also encouraged to write down as many relevant details as you can recall (e.g., names, dates, times, locations, behavior or statements made, etc.), which can be helpful in filling out a report later if needed.

EB will maintain your confidentiality except when doing so would compromise another person’s rights or EB’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation. In such cases, EB will limit disclosure only to that information necessary to ensure proper investigation and compliance with procedures.

No retaliation will be taken or tolerated against anyone who makes a good faith report of discrimination or harassment to EB.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

An investigation will be led by Experimental Biology, EB may seek other professional counsel as needed prior to reaching a decision and any follow-up actions. EB may consult with the alleged victim and/or the reporting individual prior to taking any action.

EB Management (or their designee) may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund.
EB reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting.
Serious or repeated violations may result in more significant consequences such as termination of society membership, if applicable, and contacting the violator’s employer.

Please also see the Scientific Integrity Policy.