How to Report Ethics Violations

In the table below, you will find contact information at each COLDEX member institution for reporting 1) research integrity violations, and 2) equity and sexual harassment violations. Participants can report concerns of possible research misconduct directly to the OSU Research Integrity Officer or relevant official at their institution. The OSU Research Office and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access have established procedures to ensure compliance with the NSF’s Notification Requirements Regarding Findings of Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment or Sexual Assault.

Participants also have access to OSU’s Accountability and Integrity Hotline (https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/oarc/report-concerns-hotline) for anonymous reporting. Participants are reminded that it is their responsibility to understand and follow the policies of their institution, including reporting and disclosure requirements. Reporting through OSU’s Accountability and Integrity Hotline might not meet their university/agency’s requirements.

The OSU Ombuds Office is another avenue for COLDEX members to address concerns. The Ombuds promotes a civil and inclusive campus community by providing informal, impartial, and confidential conflict management services to all members of the university community, including collaborators from outside OSU. The Ombuds assist with individual concerns through service and education, and serve as change agents to address group conflict and systemic concerns (https://ombuds.oregonstate.edu/).

The National Science Foundation has a reporting mechanism in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights that is also available to COLDEX participants (https://www.nsf.gov/od/oecr/complaint_form.jsp).

The COLDEX Director for Field Research and Data (Peter Neff, pneff@umn.edu) is a primary point of contact for misconduct during field work, and contact information will be provided to deploying participants. In addition to any other reporting, misconduct during Antarctic field work should be reported to the NSF representative on site at McMurdo Station or the McMurdo Station manager (both are NSF employees). COLDEX members and leadership will also report such misconduct to NSF if they become aware of it.