Review expectations for creating a safe, respectful and welcoming environment at AGU meetings.
About the Meetings Code of Conduct
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) convenes meetings that are welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative. AGU's Meetings Code of Conduct applies to all AGU-sponsored events, as well as affiliated events connected with an AGU meeting or event, whether in public or private facilities.
Acknowledgement and agreement to abide by the AGU Meetings Code of Conduct is required at registration for any online or on-site event. Anyone failing to abide by this code is subject to immediate removal from the event. For further details, see the “Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior” section.
Expected Behavior
- Treat everyone with respect.
- If asked to leave someone alone, do so.
- Use good practices for intercultural and neurodivergent communications.
- Excessive noise, unapproved group gatherings and/or protests are prohibited in AGU event space, to ensure all attendees can access and enjoy the event space.
- Only AGU-approved materials may be distributed or posted at the meeting. Exhibitors may distribute their own materials from their own booth space.
- Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. For example, don’t block views to take session photos or play videos on your phone when it can distract others.
- Provide your true professional identity and affiliation, and when registering, provide your true contact information.
- Respect copyrights and abide by AGU's Guidelines on Photography and Social Media.
- Abide by the rules and policies of the meeting venue, hotels, online platforms, or any other venue being used for the AGU meeting.
Examples of Unacceptable Behavior
- Promoting or participating in harassment, bullying, discrimination, or intimidation on-site, online, and/or on social media.
- Organizing, promoting or participating in protests (marches, banners, loud noises) within the AGU event space.
- Fraudulent use of AGU credentials (using a badge belonging to someone else, giving your badge to someone else, refusing to show your badge, providing false information when registering, etc.).
- 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, attacks on ideas vs. respectful, disagreeing dialogue; 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.
- Threatening or stalking in-person or online.
- Disruption or disallowing participation by others.
- Criminal offenses.
- Physical violence or vandalism of any kind.
- Use of social or mainstream media to target individual actions of participants in a way that could harm their privacy or professional status.
- Violating copyright, or copying presenter information without obtaining permission, if necessary.
- Failure to comply with AGU staff or security personnel directives.
- This is not an exhaustive list. Attendees are expected to conduct themselves professionally and in a matter that does not negatively affect the participation of other attendees.
Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
AGU staff have a responsibility to ensure a safe and respectful meeting space for all participants. AGU staff (or their designees) or security may take any action deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, immediate removal from the meeting and confiscation of the meeting badge, without warning or refund. During the course of a meeting or on-line event, attendees are expected to immediately comply with the directives of AGU staff or security. Any complaints about actions taken by staff or security may be directed to SafeAGU.
Repeat violations of the Meetings Code of Conduct, or egregious violations, may result in being temporarily or permanently banned from all AGU meetings. Other consequences are set forth in AGU's Guidelines on Photography and Social Media and the AGU Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics Policy.
Reporting Unacceptable Behavior
If you experience or witness behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety at an AGU meeting, contact 911, call security from a house phone, or alert AGU staff or a security officer. Please report other incidents that you experience or witness to AGU staff, leadership, or security or to SafeAGU at [email protected]. At many events, AGU staff and representatives will be wearing a “SafeAGU” button, meaning they are trained to handle issues regarding attendee safety.