Code of Conduct for SMM Meetings

PLEASE REPORT ANY ISSUES YOU EXPERIENCE DURING THE CONFERENCE TO ANY ATTENDING SMM BOARD MEMBER OR VIA EMAIL: ethics@marinemammalscience.org

Code of Conduct for SMM Meetings

The Society for Marine Mammalogy works to promote a welcoming environment at its meetings that is safe, collaborative, supportive, and productive for all attendees, including volunteers, exhibitors, and service providers, and that values the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences reflected among the conference attendees. To that end, we expect meeting attendees to abide by the following Code of Conduct:

Expected Behavior

Treat everyone with respect and consideration.

Communicate openly and thoughtfully with others and be considerate of the multitude of views and opinions that are different than your own.

·       Be respectful in your critique of ideas.

·       Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert any volunteer if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.

·       Respect the rules and policies of all venues associated with the meeting.

Unacceptable Behavior

·       Harassment, intimidation or discrimination in any form.

·       Physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, SMM Biennial organizer, service provider or other meeting guest.

·       Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to inappropriate 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, threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, or service provider.

·       Disruption of talks at the meeting or other associated events organized by SMM.

Consequences

·       Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.

·       SMM organizers (or their designee) or security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund.

·       SMM reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting.

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

If you are the subject of unacceptable behavior or have witnessed any such behavior, please immediately notify an SMM Biennial organizer on-site (in-person or by email) or an SMM board member or designated volunteer in a leadership position at the meeting. Contact information is available for each congress on the meeting website.