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Code of Conduct

AbSciCon, open to those interested in astrobiology, is among the most respected scientific meetings of the astrobiology community. AGU is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all meeting participants and AbSciCon staff. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, AbSciCon staff, service providers, and others are expected to abide by this AbSciCon Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct applies to all AbSciCon-related events, including those sponsored by other organizations but held in conjunction with AbSciCon events, in public or private facilities.

Expected behavior:

  1. Treat everyone with respect.
  2. Respect your fellow participants by using good practices for intercultural collaborations.
  3. Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants
  4. Provide your true professional identity, affiliation, and, where appropriate, contact information at registration and during attendance and participatory sessions, as required.
  5. Respect use of presented materials and ideas as indicated by AbSciCon’s Guidelines on Photography and Social Media, including knowing when you may need to obtain permission regarding use of materials.
  6. Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue, hotels, AbSciCon contracted facility, online platform, or any other venue.
  7. Be accountable: When we as organizers or participants fail to meet these guidelines, work together to identify problems and adjust policy and practice together.

Anyone not meeting expected collaborative, respectful behavior may immediately be removed from the online or in-person meeting and may be banned from future AbSciCons or other sanctions, depending on the specifics of the unwelcomed disruptive behavior.

Examples of unacceptable behavior

  • Promoting or participating in harassment, bullying, discrimination, or intimidation on-site, online, or on social media.
  • Verbal, written, or other forms of abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other guest.
    • Examples of abuse include, but are not limited to, verbal 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 in-person or online.
  • Disruption or disallowing participation by others.
  • Criminal offenses.
  • Failure to follow meeting protocol.
  • Physical or verbal abuse, including attacks on ideas vs. respectful, disagreeing dialogue.
  • Use of social or mainstream media to target individual actions of participants in a way that could harm their privacy or professional status or open them to slander or libel
  • Knowingly violating copyright, or copying presenter information without obtaining permission, if necessary, as outlined in AbSciCon's Guidelines on Photography and Social Media.

Consequences and reporting unacceptable behavior

Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. Anyone violating the Code of Conduct may be removed from the meeting. Egregious behavior may result in bans from future AbSciCons or other sanctions, depending on the specifics, as set forth in our Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics Policy, as applicable.

As part of registration for AbSciCon, all attendees are expected to provide their true professional name and primary affiliation, and contact information including an email address and phone number.

AbSciCon attendees should be aware that AbSciCon staff and designates monitor and moderate attendee posts mentioning AbSciCon and using hashtags associated with a meeting. Failure to follow the above guidelines may result in posts being blocked or other consequences. For more information on photography and social media practices, review AbSciCon's Guidelines on Photography and Social Media.

If you experience or witness behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety at an on-site meeting, contact 911 or, if in a convention center, locate a house phone and ask for security. Please report other incidents or suspected incidents to AbSciCon staff, leadership, or security. At many events, AbSciCon staff and representatives will be wearing a "Safe AbSciCon" button.

Acknowledgement and agreement to abide by the AbSciCon Code of Conduct is required at registration for any online or on-site event.