Code of Conduct

JASM Code of Conduct

The Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies (CASS) is comprised of the American Fisheries Society, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society, International Association for Great Lakes Research, North American Lake Management Society, Phycological Society of America, Society for Freshwater Science, and Society of Wetland Scientists.

The Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting (JASM), sponsored by CASS, values the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences reflected among all attendees. CASS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and productive environment for those attending our conference, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, physical appearance, age, or career level. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, meeting management, service providers, media representatives, guests, and others are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct applies to any activities held, sponsored, or affiliated with the JASM conference, including those sponsored by other organizations but held in conjunction with the JASM conference, in public or private facilities. By attending the JASM conference, participants agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.

Expected Behavior

• Behave in a courteous and professional manner.
• Treat all participants, attendees, meeting management, and vendors with respect, dignity, and consideration, in the spirit of valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
• Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative in your communication and actions.
• Communicate with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals in a non-confrontational manner with due regard for the viewpoints of others.
• Avoid personal attacks directed toward other attendees, participants, meeting management, and vendors.
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.
• Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert meeting management or event venue staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.
• Respect the rules, policies, and property of the meeting venue, hotels, JASM-contracted facility, or any other venue.
• Respect the decision of those that do not wish to have their presentations photographed or recorded.
• Turn off any ringers or otherwise disrupting devices during oral or poster sessions.
• Speak up, intervene, or alert a meeting manager if you observe unacceptable behavior.

Unacceptable Behavior

The following behaviors will not be tolerated:

• Harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discrimination in any form. Harassment is defined as unwelcome or offensive verbal, visual, or physical contact directed at any participant, including conduct, comments, or images that a person would reasonably find offensive, demeaning, discriminatory, or hostile. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome, unsolicited, and unreciprocated sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or gestures of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to offend, humiliate, or intimidate another person. Behavior that is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to another, so use discretion to be sure respect is communicated.  Harassment intended in a joking manner still constitutes unacceptable behavior. Regardless of your intent, if you are advised directly or by another party that some aspect of your speech or behavior is harassment, you are expected to stop engaging in such speech or behavior immediately.
• Inappropriate use of nudity, sexual images, and/or discriminatory images in public spaces or in presentations.
• Physical, written, or verbal abuse of any participant.
• Discriminatory conduct related to age, physical appearance, body size, employment or military status, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, individual lifestyle, marital status, national origin, physical or cognitive ability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, race, religion, culture, or any other characteristic.
• Deliberate intimidation, threatening, or stalking.
• Harassing photography or recording.
• Personal use of photographs or posts to social media of another individual’s oral presentation, poster, or likeness when permission is specifically denied by the individual. 
• Behavior that is unruly or disruptive, or that endangers the health or safety of yourself or others.
• Destruction, theft, dismantlement, defacement, abuse, or intentional misuse of JASM or JASM-contracted venues, property, equipment, signage, or supplies.
• Accessing restricted or ticketed areas without a proper ticket, pass and/or credential; misusing tickets, passes and/or credentials; presenting a false identification; or permitting another person to falsely present your identification as their own.
• Failure to comply with directions of meeting management or venue personnel regarding conference operations or emergency response procedures.
• Retaliation against participants for reporting activity that they reasonably believed to be in violation of this Code.
• Knowingly and falsely reporting violations of this Code.

Moreover, this Code of Conduct is not intended to be all inclusive, and it is likely there will be conduct issues that it does not specifically address. In that event, as in all others, participants are expected to follow the direction of meeting managers who will take appropriate action to ensure the safety, security, comfort, and well-being of participants.

Consequences

• Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
• Meeting management, a CASS-designated committee, or security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund.
• CASS and member societies reserve the right to take additional corrective action, including prohibiting attendance at any future meeting.

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

• Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety is advised to contact 911 or locate a house phone and ask for security.
• If you are the subject of unacceptable behavior or have witnessed any such behavior, please immediately notify a CASS meeting manager or the onsite JASM Safety Officer (mobile: 240-483-9562).  Reporting should never be done via social media.
• After receiving a report of inappropriate behavior, the Safety Officer will assess the report and work with the complainant to determine the most appropriate response.  When necessary, a CASS-designated committee will be notified that a complaint has been received so it can consider appropriate actions.
• CASS will investigate all reports with discretion and is committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals involved in the incident to the greatest extent possible. Participants are required to maintain the confidentiality of materials submitted to or received by CASS under this Code of Conduct. CASS shall make reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of relevant materials but may disclose case-related materials or information in response to legal process, when already publicly known, or when CASS leadership otherwise determines disclosure is in the best interests of CASS.