Code of Conduct
DiRAC is committed to creating a work environment that is safe, professional and of mutual trust where diversity and inclusion are valued, and where everyone is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect. DiRAC is committed to making all online and in-person events, and all associated activities, safe and professional environments for everyone.
Behaviours that are disrespectful to our members or events’ attendees and sponsors, or intimidate, exclude or cause discomfort to others will not be tolerated. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on characteristics that include, but are not limited to, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and parenthood, race, religion or belief (or lack thereof), gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, technical choices, experience level or any other dimension of diversity.
This policy applies to all in person and virutal events organised or hosted by DiRAC.
Please follow these guidelines:
1. All delegates are expected to behave professionally. As such, the following behaviours are expected at all DiRAC events. Harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary comments or jokes are not appropriate. Harassment includes sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, sexual attention or innuendo, deliberate intimidation, stalking, and photography or recording of an individual without consent. It also includes offensive comments related to individual characteristics, for example: age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, nationality or religion.
2. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. Sexual or sexist language and imagery is not appropriate.
3. Be respectful and do not insult or put down other attendees or facilitators of the event. Critique ideas not people.
4. Should a participant witness events of bullying, harassment or aggression, we recommend that they approach the affected person to show support and check how they are. The witness may also wish to suggest that the person report the inappropriate behaviour. However, it is up to the affected person alone whether or not they wish to report it.
5. If participants wish to share photos of a speaker on social media, we strongly recommend that they first get the speaker’s permission. Participants may also share the contents of talks/slides via social media unless speakers have asked that specific details/slides not be shared.
Virtual events policy
Specific to virtual events on all digital platforms, delegates are required to follow the key principles of respect when attending any virtual meeting or event:
- Delegates should not use the chat inappropriately, this includes:
- Use of expletives / swearing.
- Posting the same message across the same chat or multiple chats.
- Sharing links about commercial products / services / advertising.
- Verbally attacking a speaker or delegate.
- Delegates should allow other participants to put across their point or question without interuption and should respect the decisions of the facilitator in their direction of the discussion.
- Delegates should not use the share screen function unless required and directed to and should mute their microphone if requested by the facilitator.
Breaches of code of conduct
- In the event that this code of conduct is not followed, there will be a person of contact at each event to whom any issues can be escalated. This person will be identified to all participants at the start of each event. Participants can report any violation of these guidelines to this designated person in confidence. Participants can also contact Director, Mark Wilkinson after the event to report breaches.
- If asked to stop inappropriate behaviour, participants are expected to comply immediately and, in serious cases, may be asked to leave the event at the sole discretin of the organisers.
- DiRAC will not tolerate retaliation against anyone reporting violations of this code of conduct.
This code of conduct was adapted, under the CC-BY license, from the code of conduct of the Alan Turing Institute.
