CODE OF CONDUCT
We envision ARID as a community founded upon our shared interest in dryland science, and we are open to everyone from anywhere in the world. ARID is fully committed to providing a safe and inclusive experience for all those involved. Together, we can make an ARID community that we are all proud to be a part of.
Participants in our programs and events agree to the below Code Of Conduct:
Follow The Rules
Please respect the rules and policies of meeting venues, hotels, online platforms, or any other venue. During online events, we will create structure to ensure respect for our facilitators, presenters, and attendees. For example, you may be asked to hold questions until the end or keep your microphones on silent.
Be Respectful
Use good practices for intercultural collaborations. Disagree with ideas openly but respectfully, without demeaning or embarrassing others or calling individuals out (i.e., criticize ideas, not people). Be open to challenges to your own ideas, and don't dismiss the ideas of others. Acknowledge other's identities by using their correct pronouns.
Be Kind
Assume everyone is bringing their best self and treat everyone with dignity. Be cautious of using humor or sarcasm, especially in online communication. Avoid jokes that demean others or make fun of people, even if indirectly.
Be An Ally
Speak up if you see or hear something that might be inconsistent with the ARID Code of Conduct. You are empowered to make others aware of their actions if you feel they are in conflict with expected, collaborative, respectful behavior.
Be Accountable
When we as organizers or participants fail to meet these guidelines, we will work together to identify problems and adjust policy and practice together.
We do not tolerate harassment of program or event participants in any form, including:
No Forms of Abuse Tolerated
Physical, verbal, written, or other forms of abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other guest.
Examples of Prohibited Conduct
Examples of abuse include, but are not limited to, 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.
Zero Tolerance for Intimidation
Personal attacks, intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome following, whether in person or online.
Disruption-Free Environment
Sustained disruption of talks or other events. This includes interrupting speakers or other guests, dismissing others' ideas, or dominating the time in a manner that overpowers other voices.
We understand that some of these behaviors might be done unintentionally, so we ask that if you are made aware that your words or actions are offensive, stop immediately. If you do not stop, you will need to leave and could be removed from future participation.
Note, ARID adapted this Code of Conduct from the existing American Geophysical Union (AGU) and Ecological Society of America (ESA) Codes of Conduct. We will fall back to these more thorough documents for any issues or situations that are not explicitly covered here. Please find the AGU and ESA documents here and here, respectively.
If you experience or witness any behavior that violates these guidelines or any other behavior that makes you or someone else uncomfortable, please reach out to PI Sasha Reed (screed@usgs.gov; cell = 435-210-4824) or to any member of the Leadership Team (all of whom can be found on the 'Team' page of this website). If you would rather not reach out to someone on this team for any reason, please also feel free to reach out to Erika Geiger, who serves as a U.S. Geological Survey ally and can also help (egeiger@usgs.gov; https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/erika-geiger).
Thank you for helping us make our community and events a shared space of learning and growth!