We aim to create an inspiring and positive environment at our VIB conferences and events. Below you will find some of the guidelines we expect everyone to follow.
Code of Conduct
VIB Conferences & events are built on the free and open exchange of scientific ideas, and the contributions of our diverse community. In this spirit, we are dedicated to providing a supportive, collegial, and harassment-free conference or event experience for everyone, regardless of:
- Gender
- Gender identity and expression
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Physical appearance
- Body size
- Race
- Age or
- Religion
We expect participants to display respectful behavior at all times. It is okay to be critical and to provide constructive and actionable feedback in a respectful way, but, we do not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or bullying of participants in talks, workshops, poster sessions, group discussions, social activities, or online. Participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference or the event with no refund, at the discretion of the organizers.
Examples of unacceptable harassment, intimidation, and bullying behavior
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Making comments, to an audience or personally, that belittle or demean another person
- Sharing or showing off sexual or explicit images in public spaces
- Stalking or following
- Harassing photography or recording
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events
- Inappropriate physical contact
- Unwelcome sexual attention
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
Intimidation and bullying include, but are not limited to:
- Aggressive or intimidating behavior directed at someone during a public presentation
- Mocking or insulting another person’s intellect, work, perspective, or question/comment
- Making reference to someone’s gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, or other personal attribute in the context of a scientific discussion
- Deliberately making someone feel unwelcome
- Preventing others from speaking or expressing themselves
Enforcement
Participants asked to stop any unacceptable behavior as described above are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in any of these behaviors, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the conference or event with no refund. Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.
We expect all participants to behave professionally, respectfully and appropriately and in line with the highest professional standards when interacting with colleagues and stakeholders, on and off VIB premises.
Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible, by reaching out to conference organizers, either personally or via e-mail: conferences@vib.be.
When taking a personal report, our staff will ensure you are safe and cannot be overheard. You won’t be asked to confront anyone and we won’t disclose your identity with regards to the report.
This Code of Conduct is adapted from the BioC2019 Code of Conduct
