Attendees are reminded to engage with other colleagues and collaborators at the meeting in a constructive and respectful manner at all times.
Note that as this event is sponsored by the UK Institute of Physics (IOP). As an IOP sponsored event, paragraphs 5 and 9 of the IOP Code of Conduct, detailed below, apply to all attendees, including non-members.
The ePIC Collaboration Code of Conduct also applies.
5. Treating all with dignity and respect
5.1 All members and non-members must treat everyone with dignity and respect and must not use their position, personal belief, or opinion, to bully, abuse, victimise, harass or unlawfully discriminate against any other person for any reason whatsoever, whether physically, verbally, through electronic means or in any other way.
5.2 The IOP will not tolerate harassment on any basis, including that which relates to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, neurodivergence, social status, background, or actual or perceived intellect. Harassment is unacceptable even if it does not fall within any of the categories or examples set out in this Code.
5.3 Harassment can take many forms:
(a) Under the Equality Act 2010, it is defined as:
(i) unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual; and
(ii) unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or that is related to gender reassignment or sex.
(b) Harassment can be physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct and includes, but is not limited to, abusive spoken or written words, offensive emails, tweets or comments on social networking sites, offensive images or graffiti, and physical gestures or jokes. It also includes treating someone less favourably because they have submitted, or refused to submit, to such behaviour in the past.
5.4 Members and non-members must not recklessly or maliciously damage, or attempt to harm, directly or indirectly, the reputation, prospects, businesses or property of others.
5.5 Members and non-members must not advertise, nor write or publish in any manner, whether in physical copy or in a digital/multimedia format, any material that brings, or may bring, the IOP into disrepute, is derogatory, or could reasonably be expected to cause offence to any individual member or community of members, or to the dignity of their profession. Members and non-members must also not authorise any such material to be written or published by others.
9 Confidential reporting and self-reporting
9.1 If any person (member or non-member) becomes aware of a breach of this Code, they may report the matter to the Head of Membership of the IOP who (in the case of a breach by a member) shall address such matter in accordance with the disciplinary procedures in the Regulations and (in the case of a breach by a non-member) shall address the matter in accordance with paragraph 2.3 above.
9.2 Where a breach by a member of this Code is also a breach of their employer’s internal code of conduct, or the law, that member must inform the relevant employer/authorities of such a breach.
9.3 Where a member has breached their own employer’s code of conduct and that is also a breach of this Code, the member must self-report such breach to the Head of Membership of the IOP. Failure to make a self-report is, in itself, a breach of this Code.
9.4 If an individual feels that they have been harassed or discriminated against by a member or volunteer, or by an attendee at an IOP conference, meeting, or event (including, but not limited to, at the venue, accommodation and/or during any related social activities), or has witnessed this occurring, they are encouraged to report this to a member of the IOP’s staff at the conference or to the Head of Membership of the IOP, as soon as reasonably practicable. Any report will be treated sensitively, appropriately, and in a timely fashion.
9.5 Conference, meeting or event participants asked to stop any harassment or discriminatory behaviour are required to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassment or discriminatory behaviour then, in addition to any other sanctions under this Code or the Regulations, the IOP/event organisers may take any necessary action including expulsion from the conference, meeting or event with no refund and/or refusal of future registration.
