SCBNA Meeting and Event Code of Conduct Policy

 

The Society for Conservation Biology North America (SCBNA) works to promote a welcoming environment at its meetings and events that is safe, collaborative, supportive, and productive for all stakeholders as defined: attendees, organizing committee members, contractors, staff, volunteers, exhibitors, and service providers. SCBNA values the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences reflected among the conference planners, exhibitors, and attendees. Indeed, we believe that the best way to advance knowledge is through the open, free, and respectful exchange of ideas while refraining from unacceptable behavior that may intimidate or threaten other stakeholders. To that end, we expect all stakeholders as defined above to abide by the following Code of Conduct:

Expected Behavior

  • Treat everyone with respect and consideration.
  • Communicate thoughtfully with others and be considerate of the multitude of views and opinions that are different than your own, in all situations including but not limited to: while presenting, in one-one conversations, at exhibitor tables, and within group discussion.
  • Be respectful in your critique of ideas.
  • Be mindful of your surroundings, your fellow participants, and unacceptable behavior as outlined below.
  • Alert SCBNA staff if you notice a situation that violates the code of conduct or someone in distress.Respect the rules and policies of all venues associated with the meeting.
  • Any groups or individuals that wish to distribute petitions, surveys, or gain signature/agreement to statements at the conference must gain approval by the SCBNA Board one month prior to the conference.
  • Contact conferences@scbnorthamerica.org to gain approval – an application for approval does not guarantee approval.

Unacceptable Behavior

  • Participation, facilitation, or promotion of harassment*, intimidation* or discrimination* behaviors at the meeting, event, or via social media associated with the meeting, event, or other associated activities organized by SCBNA.
  • Physical, emotional, or verbal abuse* of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, SCBNA staff or board member, service provider or other meeting or event guest.
  • Disruption* of talks at the meeting/event or other associated activities organized by SCBNA.
  • Disbursement of offensive or insensitive materials as related to the guidelines of unacceptable behavior*. SCBNA is strongly committed to facilitating the open discussion of ideas. However, in the interest of maintaining the conference as a welcoming space for all attendees, we reserve the right to forbid distribution of offensive or insensitive political or other material.
  • Exhibitors & Individuals: Placement of materials on exhibitors’ tables other than your own without permission.
  • Photography/copying/sharing of presentation slides if presenter includes statement or image indicating confidentiality.
  • Publicly sharing the location or contact information of any other participant beyond information shared in the NACCB materials.

*Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to inappropriate comments related to gender, sexual orientation or identity, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, socioeconomic status; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, threatening, bullying or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, SCBNA staff or member, or service provider. Determination of violating materials is at the sole discretion of SCBNA.

Consequences

  • Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
  • SCBNA staff (or their designee) or security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the organizing committee or meeting without warning or refund.
  • Any illegal behavior will result in contacting the appropriate authorities.
  • SCBNA reserves the right to prohibit participation in any future planning effort and/or attendance at any future meeting.

Process for Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

If you are the subject of unacceptable behavior or have witnessed any such behavior, please immediately follow these steps:

  1. Remove yourself from the situation and find a safe space.
  2. Onsite/In-person: Contact information will be provided on your conference badge to report an incidence of unacceptable behavior to the designated Conflict Resolution Officer(s) on site at the conference. SCBNA Director & Executive Committee of the SCBNA Board will be notified of the incident. If the incident involves the SCBNA Director or a member of the Executive Committee of the SCBNA board the incident will not be reported to that individual except to enact any consequences deemed necessary. The SCB Board of Governors Ombudsperson may be notified upon request, or if deemed necessary by the SCBNA Director and/or Executive Committee of the Board. All information will remain confidential among aforementioned parties. The incident will be discussed in-person in a private location at the conference.  Resulting actions/consequences will be determined on a case by case basis. Please see above for consequences that may result from incidents in violation of the code of conduct.

OR

Contact conferences@scbnorthamerica.org (SCBNA Director) to provide a description of the concern if an incident occurs outside of the conference, or if you wish to resolve the issue remotely. SCBNA Director & Executive Committee of the SCBNA Board will be notified of the incident. If the incident involves the SCBNA Director or a member of the Executive Committee of the SCBNA board the incident will not be reported to that individual except to enact any consequences deemed necessary.  The SCB Board of Governors Ombudsperson may be notified upon request, or if deemed necessary by the SCBNA Director and/or Executive Committee of the Board. All information will remain confidential among aforementioned parties. Resulting actions/consequences will be determined on a case by case basis. Please see above for consequences that may result from incidents in violation of the code of conduct.