IPICS Meeting Code of Conduct

IPICS welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and strives to provide a place for scientific exchange that is safe, respectful, non-discriminating and without harassment. By registering for this meeting, you agree to adhere to the Meeting Code of Conduct.

Harassment, bullying, or aggression are not acceptable, regardless of intent. Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. The IPICS Team, meeting facilitators or their designees may take actions deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the event, whether online or in person.

Expected behavior

All IPICS participants agree to:

  • Treat everyone with respect.

  • Be curious and listen to understand. Strive to make space for others to speak, especially the quieter voices and those with different viewpoints from our own.

  • Limit behavior, both verbal and written, that may be deemed disruptive to participants, facilitators, or guest speakers.

  • Receive permission before taking photographs of research talks or posters, especially before sharing it online.

  • Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue, hotels, online platforms, or any other venue.

  • Be Accountable: When we as organizers or participants fail to meet these guidelines, work together to identify problems and adjust policy and practice together.

Unacceptable behavior

Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to:

  • Physical, 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, harassing verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, or socioeconomic class; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations.

  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following, in person or online

  • Unwelcome sexual attention

  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events

  • Denigrating the researcher or presenter, or denigrating their work (scientific critique is allowed and encouraged; questioning the value of their work is not)

  • Name-calling and patronizing language

  • Interrupting presenters or those asking questions

Enforcement and Reporting

Participants asked to stop unacceptable behavior are expected to comply immediately, regardless of who asks them to stop. Retaliation toward complainants of inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated. Anyone not meeting expected, collaborative, respectful behavior can be immediately removed from the current meeting and may be banned from future IPICS meetings or other sanctions, depending on the specifics of the unwelcomed disruptive behavior.

If you are subject to unacceptable and/or unwelcome behavior, witness concerning behavior, see someone in distress, or have any other concerns, the following Safe Disclosure-trained members of the IPICS 2026 Local Organizing Committee are available:

  • Alison Criscitiello: crisciti@ualberta.ca

  • Anne Myers: almyers@ualberta.ca

  • Meg Harlan: mharlan@ualberta.ca