Code of Conduct

The Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) program is committed to providing a safe, free from harassment, productive and welcoming environment for all. This includes respectful treatment of everyone regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, physical appearance, age, body size, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, level of experience, political affiliation, as well as any other characteristic protected under state or federal law. This policy applies to all attendees at all GEM activities including scientists, students, guests, staff, and contractors participating in scientific sessions, auxiliary meetings, and social events associated with any GEM gathering or other activity.

Sections A and B contain information where to find policy documentation including the prohibited and expected behaviors, definition of harassment, the procedure for reporting harassment, and the procedures and responsibilities of the GEM Meeting Organizers and Steering Committee in addressing harassment (including external harassment cases). If you experience or witness behavior that violates professional and respectful participant conduct, please see the reporting offices and resources available in Section C.

Whether or not an incident is reported to either of the grant holder’s institutions, you may find a Meeting Organizer and/or a trusted GEM Steering Committee member to discuss an incident when immediate action is needed. The privacy of the individuals involved will be respected to the extent possible.

All participants are required to abide by this Code of Conduct. If there has been a violation of this Code, consequences may include:

  • UI or UMN will contact a participant’s institution to report the conduct; and
  • Any other actions deemed necessary and appropriate.

A. Prohibited and Expected Behaviors

GEM expects all Participants to comply with the letter and spirit of this Code. GEM Meeting Organizers reserve the right to enforce this Code against any Participant found to have violated GEM’s commitment to a professional, respectful, inclusive environment even if a specific behavior is not listed below. This policy applies to all attendees at the GEM workshop, including scientists, students, guests, staff, and contractors participating in scientific sessions, auxiliary meetings and social events associated with any GEM gathering or other activity.

Anyone who does not meet expected collaborative, respectful behavior may be subject to the consequences listed above.

1. Sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, is prohibited. Section B provides information about sexual harassment and misconduct definitions. Also, definitions of sexual harassment, assault, and violence can be found on the NSF website at https://new.nsf.gov/stopping-harassment#prohibited-behaviors-and-definitions-e71

2. Discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, is prohibited. Section B provides information about discrimination and discriminatory harassment definitions.

3. Retaliation is prohibited. “Retaliation” is defined as taking an adverse action against an individual, or subjecting an individual to conduct, with the purpose of unreasonably creating an environment that is hostile because of something that individual did to further this policy. This includes, but is not limited to, a person reporting an incident, any people who served as witnesses, and people supporting or opposing a complaint. Retaliation also includes interfering with the reporting of, or the investigation of, prohibited behavior. Examples include tampering with or destroying relevant evidence and intimidating, threatening or attempting to influence, in any way, the testimony or information of a complainant or witness. Retaliation is a serious violation of this policy and, like harassment or discrimination itself, is subject to disciplinary action as described in the previous section.

4. Concerns should be reported immediately to the appropriate person, channels, or entity, as described in Section C of this document, so that the legal office, or Title IX office can act quickly to address and resolve issues (see Section C below for details on how to report concerns). 

5. Confidentiality of the identities of any individuals involved in a conduct concern should be respected to the extent possible while it is being reviewed and addressed.

6. Participants should treat everyone with respect and should not engage in conduct or make comments that are biased, demeaning, intimidating, coercive, or harassing/hostile.

7. Participants should not touch or make physical contact with anyone unless they know such contact is welcome.

8. Participants should maintain a professional behavior at the workshop venue.

9. Participants should act professionally and responsibly if they choose to drink when alcohol is available, or if they use other legal intoxicants.

10. Participants should not engage in violence or abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other guest, physically, verbally or through any other form.

11. Participants should respect the rules and policies of the workshop venue, hotels, online platform, or any other venue associated with the workshop. 

12. Scientific participants, including students, should display scientific integrity in disseminating their research.

13. Scientific participants should recognize co-authors that have made bona fide contributions to their work provided they agree to be recognized. Scientific participants should not plagiarize the work of others.

14. During the GEM workshop, presentation materials will be available online for registered attendees to view. GEM members will respect the intellectual property rights of others and follow best practices.

B. Participant Notice

This workshop is partially supported by the National Science Foundation under awards to the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota. We are required by the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (Chapter II.F.8), effective May 20, 2024, to have a policy or code-of-conduct that addresses sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault, and that includes clear and accessible means of reporting violations of the policy or code-of-conduct. The policy or code-of-conduct must address the method for making a complaint as well as how any complaints received during the conference will be resolved. This policy or code-of-conduct must be disseminated to conference participants prior to attendance at the conference as well as made available at the conference itself. For purposes of this requirement, “other forms of harassment” is defined as “Non-gender or non-sex-based harassment of individuals protected under federal civil rights laws, as set forth in organizational policies or codes of conduct, statutes, regulations, or executive orders.”

It is National Science Foundation (NSF) policy to foster harassment-free environments wherever science is conducted, including at NSF-sponsored conferences, workshops, and symposia. This conference/workshop/symposium is supported all, or in part, by the NSF under Award No. 2540520.

The University of Iowa aims to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. While we cherish freedom of expression, we also respect our differences. By enhancing our ability to listen, learn, and treat each other fairly, we strengthen our community and foster collaboration and mutual respect. If you witness discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, please speak up. If you have experienced harassment, discrimination, or sexual misconduct, seek support options as listed in Section C.

The University of Minnesota is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment, viewing safety as a collective, multi-faceted responsibility that promotes community, belonging, and well-being for all students and staff. The University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy adheres to the Board of Regents Student Conduct Code and , which prohibit harassment, discrimination, violence, and intimidation, as well as related retaliation. The University’s approach combines enhanced public safety, mental health resources, and a firm, proactive stance against harassment, bias, and discrimination. If you experience harassment, discrimination, or sexual misconduct, seek support options as listed in Section C.

In accordance with NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (Chapter II.F.8), effective May 20, 2024, the University of Iowa and University of Minnesota are providing all event participants with information on the University’s policies regarding sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault as well as directions on how to report any violations of these policies. Both institutions have comprehensive policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment, including sexual violence and sexual harassment (UMN also addresses harassment against gender identity), which include definitions of the prohibited conduct:

University of Iowa:

University of Minnesota:

  • The University of Minnesota (UMN) prohibits sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, and relationship violence), discrimination (including discriminatory harassment) based on protected classes—including race, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity—and related retaliation in all educational and employment programs. Policies can be found on the University of Minnesota’s Equal Opportunity & Title IX website.

C. Reporting Offices and Resources

Conference attendees wishing to report sexual misconduct (including sexual assault or sexual harassment), other forms of discrimination or discriminatory harassment, or related retaliation should contact either:

  • NSF Sexual Assault and Harassment Prevention and Response Program (SAHPR) has options for filing a report or complaint and resources, please see https://www.nsf.gov/stopping-harassment/sahpr
  • The University of Minnesota: For concerns about sexual misconduct, discrimination, gender identity discrimination, or related retaliation contact Equal Opportunity and Title IX. In case of an emergency dial 911. For an emergency involving sexual assault, stalking or domestic violence, call the 24-hour rape crisis line (612) 301-4673. You can report other concerns to the University of Minnesota using UReport.
  • The University of Iowa Office of Civil Rights Compliance: Please report the incident using the Incident Report Form. In case of an emergency, dial 911. For an emergency involving sexual assault, stalking or domestic violence, call the 24-hour crisis line (800) 373-1043.

The University of Iowa and/or University of Minnesota will respond promptly and effectively to reports of prohibited conduct and take appropriate action to prevent, correct, and when necessary and possible, to discipline behavior that violates these policies. The University of Iowa and/or University of Minnesota will make any required notifications to the NSF Office of Equity and Civil Rights, and other external agencies as appropriate. The University of Iowa and/or University of Minnesota may also contact a participant’s institution to report the conduct.

Individuals who file a complaint or report misconduct have the right to expect:

  • Dignity and respect.
  • Information about policies and procedures addressing misconduct.
  • Options for notifying law enforcement.
  • Notification of counseling and support resources, and the right to request disability accommodations and language translations at any stage of the resolution process.
  • Privacy preservation, as much as possible and permitted by law.

Please dial 911 for emergency situations and/or immediate safety concerns.