Code Of Conduct for the Seventh International Marine Conservation Congress

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) and the SCB Marine Program work to promote a welcoming environment at conferences that is safe, collaborative, supportive, and productive for all attendees and service providers. SCB Marine and IMCC value the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences reflected among all attendees.

All IMCC7 delegates and guests are expected to adhere to the SCB Marine Code of Conduct.

IMCC7 Code of Conduct

The mission of IMCC7 is making marine science matter. Topics arising during the meeting may arouse debate, and strong disagreements may occur. We see this as an asset – it is our explicit mission to set up a space so that these discussions can happen honorably and openly. However, there is a line between debate and disrespect – and if that line is crossed, the space is no longer productive. IMCC7 offers a safe, equable, inspiring space for delegates from around the world.  Our respectful dialogue policy asks that participants maintain constructive discourse with other conference attendees at all times.

To that end, we expect everyone 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 from your own.
• Be respectful and mindful in your critique of ideas.
• Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert SCB staff if you notice a potentially dangerous situation or someone in distress.
• Respect the rules and policies of the conference centre and all venues associated with IMCC7.
• Compliance with the IMCC7 Safety Officer and IMCC7 security guidance and/ or instructions.

Unacceptable Behavior

• Harassment and intimidation, including any verbal, written, or physical conduct designed to threaten, bully, intimidate, or coerce another delegate, conference organizers, or staff.
• Discrimination based on gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, or culture.
• Physical, verbal, or written (including electronic/social media) abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, SCB staff member, service provider or other meeting guest.
• Examples of unacceptable behaviour also include, but are not limited to: inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations; bullying, threatening, or stalking any IMCC7 participant (including on electronic/social media); sexually harassing any IMCC7 participant.
• Disrespectful disruption of presentations.

Consequences

• Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behaviour is expected to comply immediately.
• IMCC7 staff (or their designee) or security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning and potentially without refund.
• SCB and the SCB Marine Program reserve the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting for occurrences of unacceptable behaviour.
  
  

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

• If you are the subject of unacceptable behaviour or have witnessed any such behaviour, please immediately notify the IMCC7 Safety Officer, an IMCC7 staff member, or SCB Marine Program volunteer in a leadership position. For delegates who wish to lodge a complaint of harassment, the trained IMCC7 Safety Officer will be available and readily identifiable. Notification should be done by contacting IMCC7 Safety Officer on-site or e-mail your concern (the IMCC7 Safety Officer’s email address will be confirmed in advance of the meeting).
• You may also notify us here if the Safety Officer is unavailable. Please be sure the subject line reflects the urgency of the situation.
• For matters of immediate physical safety, you may also approach the onsite IMCC7 security guard.
• Reporting should never be done via social media.

IMCC7 Safety Officer

More information on IMCC7’s Safety Officer will be shared when available. Thank you for your patience.

Favaro, B., Oester, S., Cigliano, J.A., Cornick, L.A., Hind, E.J., Parsons, E.C.M., Woodbury, T.J. 2016. Your science conference should have a code of conduct.  Frontiers in Marine Science.