Code of Conduct
It is NSF policy to foster harassment-free environments wherever science is conducted, including at NSF-sponsored meetings. To advance this critical objective, the organizers of the NSF CIRC Principal Investigators (PI) Meeting have developed the Code of Conduct presented below.
All attendees, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers at the NSF CIRC PI Meeting are required to (1) agree to the following Code of Conduct and (2) agree to conduct themselves accordingly. The meeting organizers will enforce this Code throughout the event. The organizers expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe and productive environment for everybody.
Summary
The NSF CIRC PI Meeting is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone. The meeting organizers do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Meeting participants must avoid harassment and the presentation of sexual and/or offensive imagery and language as described below. Meeting participants who violate the rules against harassment or the presentation of sexual and/or offensive imagery and language may be sanctioned or expelled from the meeting *without a refund* at the sole discretion of the meeting organizers.
Harassment and Offensive Imagery
Harassment includes unwelcome conduct or offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, physical appearance, body size, national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, education, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention, and sexual images in public spaces.
Harassment is forbidden in all meeting events, including but not limited to all talks, breakout sessions, meals and breaks, and receptions. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for the meeting and are not allowed in any meeting event or medium. Meeting media include slides, posters, and meeting-related social media. Violent and/or degrading images are also inappropriate and are not allowed in any meeting event or medium.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
Images and language that would normally be considered inappropriate may be incorporated into meeting talks and media when such material is inherent to the meeting-relevant technical material being presented, e.g., a project that aims to analyze online hate speech. In these exceptional circumstances, there should be a clear warning at the outset to the audience that potentially offensive material will be presented. Even in these circumstances, presenters must be sensitive to their audience and should minimize the use of offensive material.
What To Do If You Observe a Violation of the Code of Conduct
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, observe the display of prohibited imagery or language, or have any other concerns, contact one of the meeting organizers. The meeting organizers are listed on the meeting website and will be identified to attendees at the beginning of the meeting.
What Happens Once a Report Is Made
Once an incident is reported, the meeting organizers will investigate. If they determine that a meeting participant has violated this Code of Conduct, they may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expelling the offender from the meeting with no refund.
As circumstances warrant, meeting staff will help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the meeting. We value your attendance.