Code of Conduct

AAAS is committed to providing a safe and productive meeting environment that fosters open dialogue and the exchange of scientific ideas, promotes equal opportunities and treatment for all participants, and is free of harassment and discrimination. All participants are expected to treat others with respect and consideration and alert staff of any dangerous situations or anyone in distress.

Speakers are expected to uphold standards of scientific integrity and professional ethics. This includes notifying AAAS staff in advance of the meeting about any possible conflicts of interest. AAAS recognizes that there are areas of science that are controversial.

The AAAS Annual Meeting can serve as an effective forum to consider and debate science-relevant viewpoints in an orderly, respectful, and fair manner. The policies herein apply to all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, staff, contractors, volunteers, and guests at the Annual Meeting and related events.

The following represent types of behaviors that will not be tolerated during the AAAS Annual Meeting and related events:

  • intentionally talking over or interrupting others
  • engaging in biased, demeaning, intimidating, coercive, harassing, or hostile conduct or commentary, whether seriously or in jest, based on sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, veteran status, age, physical appearance, disability, power differential, or other identities
  • engaging in personal attacks of any kind
  • commenting on personal appearance
  • retaliation against reporting of conduct concerns or assisting in conflict resolutions
  • disruption of the Annual Meeting (e.g., “Zoom-bombing”) or engaging in harm or threats of harm of any kind
  • producing or distributing audio or visual recordings of the Annual Meeting in any medium
  • producing or distributing photographs of presentations or materials
  • engaging in any of the above behaviors on social media in relation to the Annual Meeting or related events

Virtual meetings are different than in-person gatherings.  AAAS expects all participants to abide by these guidelines in all fora of the meeting. AAAS reserves the right to remove an individual from the Annual Meeting without warning or refund, prohibit attendance at future AAAS meetings, and notify the individual’s employer.

Reporting Harassment and Misconduct

If an individual experiences or witnesses harassment or misconduct and wishes to file a formal report, they should contact AAAS Meetings staff at reportconduct@aaas.org or (202) 326-6450. All complaints will be treated seriously and confidentially and responded to promptly.

If an individual experience or witnesses harassment or misconduct, it is recommended that, in addition to notifying AAAS Meetings staff, they write down the details. They are not expected to discuss the incident with the offending party. Their confidentiality will be maintained to the extent that it does not compromise the rights of others.

Disclaimers

Abstracts and synopses of material presented at the AAAS Annual Meeting reflect the individual views of the author and not necessarily those of the AAAS, its Council, Board of Directors, officers, or the views of the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. Presentation of ideas, products, or publications at the AAAS Meeting or the reporting of them in resulting news accounts does not constitute endorsement by AAAS.

AAAS is committed to making the Annual Meeting an inclusive space for sharing ideas and knowledge. View Our Policies
AAAS is committed to making the Annual Meeting an inclusive space for sharing ideas and knowledge. View Our Policies