SCBNA Meeting and Event Code of Conduct Policy

With respect to NACCB’s transition to a virtual event for the 2020 congress, please consider the following code of conduct and responsibilities of all participants for a safe and inclusive event.

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 online chats, during question & answer sessions, in one-one conversations, and within group or breakout discussion.
  • Be respectful in your critique of ideas.
  • Be respectful in sharing about meeting content and presenters on social media.
  • Be mindful of your fellow participants, and unacceptable behavior as outlined below.
  • Alert SCBNA staff immediately if you notice a situation that violates the code of conduct or someone in distress.
  • Keep yourself on mute unless you are actively speaking in discussions, questions or presenting.
  • If presenting, adhere to NACCB presenter guidelines.
  • Consider your surroundings and computer screen contents when sharing your screen or appearing in live or pre-recorded videos to prevent the appearance of sensitive personal information, inappropriate background images, or disruptive content. This does not apply to unplanned cameo appearances by pets and children.
  • Any groups or individuals that wish to distribute petitions, surveys, or gain signature/agreement to statements via 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.
  • Copying/screenshotting/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.
  • Spamming** participants or posting unsolicited links in comments, questions, or chat boxes

*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.

**Examples of spam include commercial materials, unsolicited self promotion, or comments or questions intended to annoy or disrupt proceedings

Consequences

  • Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
  • SCBNA official representatives (or their designee) may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate restriction from accessing and participating in the meeting without warning or refund and removal of all contributed content (e.g., presentation recording, poster) from the conference.
  • 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. Violations of the code of conduct may also impact ability to attend or participate in future SCB activities outside of the NA section.

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. Contact information to report an incidence of unacceptable behavior will be provided in prominent locations in the online conference program, website and mobile app. 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. Screenshots or any evidence of the concern is helpful but not required. 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.