The International Phytobiomes Conference is committed to providing a safe and productive meeting environment that fosters open dialogue and the exchange of scientific ideas, promotes equal opportunities and treatment for all participants, and is free of harassment and discrimination.
This Code of Conduct outlines the Conference organizer’s expectations for all meeting attendees, speakers, exhibitors, staff, contractors, and guests at the Conference and social events. All participants in attendance are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct to help ensure a pleasant and safe meeting experience. All participants are expected to treat others with respect, professionalism, and consideration and to uphold standards of scientific integrity and professional ethics.
Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the Conference without a refund at the discretion of the Conference organizers.
Unacceptable Behavior
The following represent types of behaviors that will not be tolerated during the International Phytobiomes Conference and related events:
- Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
- Engaging in biased, demeaning, intimidating, coercive, harassing, or hostile conduct or commentary, whether seriously or in jest, based on sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, veteran status, age, physical appearance, disability, power differential, or other identities.
- Engaging in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical actions of a sexual nature such as, but not limited to: unnecessary touching; use of sexually degrading words to describe an individual; and display of sexually suggestive objects or images or other materials; and sexually explicit jokes, regardless of the means by which the material is communicated.
- Intentionally talking over or interrupting others.
- Engaging in personal attacks of any kind.
- Commenting on personal appearance.
- Retaliating against persons who file a complaint or assist in an investigation.
- Disrupting the Conference or engaging in harm or threats of harm of any kind.
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviors.
Reporting
If an individual experiences or witnesses harassment or misconduct, they should immediately report it to the Conference staff identified by their special badges, or contact Lori Leach at leach@eversoleassociates.com or the Conference office at contact@phytobiomesalliance.org. All reports will be treated seriously and confidentially and responded to promptly.
If an individual experience or witnesses harassment or misconduct, it is recommended that, in addition to notifying the contacts mentioned above, they write down the details. They are not expected to discuss the incident with the offending party. Their confidentiality will be maintained to the extent that it does not compromise the rights of others.
All reports will be investigated. We will gather all relevant details and information (verbal or written) from the reporter, the target (if they are not the reporter), and witnesses. Investigations may extend beyond the end of the Conference.
Enforcement
Conference organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the Conference organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes, but is not limited to, warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund, and barring the person from participating to future Phytobiomes Conferences.
We expect participants to follow these rules at all event venues and event-related social activities. We think people should follow these rules outside event activities too!