Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct Overview

We are committed to fostering the exchange of ideas and maintaining a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all participants, no matter their function or their background. This includes respectful treatment of everyone.  This Code of Conduct is adapted from SZ4D (www.sz4d.org) and the Southern East African Rift System Workshop Code of Conduct (https://southernearsworkshop.org/code-of-conduct/).

All participants are required to abide by the Code of Conduct. 

This workshop is sponsored by both the National Science Foundation with a grant to Virginia Tech and the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. We support and promote our institutional policies prohibiting discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy status, age, disability, medical condition, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. 

Reports of any potential violation of the Code of Conduct can be made to any member of the workshop organizing committee and will be routed to authorities as appropriate including legal authorities, home universities, and relevant funding organizations, including the National Science Foundation. Contact info for reporting is at the bottom of this document. 

Expected Behavior

• Treat all participants with respect, valuing a diversity of views and opinions. 

• Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative. 

• Acknowledge the contributions of others. 

• Contribute to an accessible and inclusive environment for all participants.

• Do not make audio/visual recordings of presentations unless permission is specifically approved.

Unacceptable Behavior

• Physical or verbal abuse by anyone to anyone, including bullying, harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form. 

• Sexual attention or advances, or inappropriate sexual references. 

• Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting. 

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

• Please alert one of these individuals if you witness or experience any violations to the Code of Conduct:

D. Sarah Stamps, dstamps@vt.edu 

Stephanie Enslin, stephanie.scheiber@wits.ac.za 

Tolu Olugboji, tolugboj@UR.Rochester.edu 

• Bystander intervention is encouraged. If someone is acting against our Code of Conduct, address it as directly as you can and report as necessary.