This should be introduced in a plenary format and posted/emailed for all attendees. Updated from the ASSW Codes of Conduct of previous years.
Registration for attendance in the ASSW 2023, no matter if online or in-person, indicates the agreement of the participant to abide by the ASSW 2023 Code of Conduct.
Statement of Intent
IASC and the ASSW 2023 organizers are committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming, productive, and trusted meeting environment for all ASSW 2023 participants (including attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, ASSW committee members, management and staff, service providers, and others). As we gather to discuss and share science and different knowledge bases, we must remember to come with a willingness and open mind and foster good spirit (in multiple Arctic languages) so that we can create a sense of community – online and in-person. We get out what we put in, and we invite all ASSW participants to be intentional and thoughtful in their interactions. This Code of Conduct was based on work from many organizations, meetings, and contributions from ASSW participants.
The purpose of the Code of conduct is to communicate that all meeting participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, and responsible manner at all times. Harassment in any form will not be tolerated.
Let’s weave our shared values into our actions!
- Be open, be welcoming
- Foster good spirit (in multiple Arctic languages)
- Embrace the joy, fun, and lightness in our important work
- Create a sense of community
- We get out what we put in
- Tie our values into our actions
- A wholistic approach, remember all our relations
Engagement Principles and Guidelines
- Value a diversity of views and opinions - speak without judgment or argument.
- Strive for inclusive, transparent, and open communication.
- This is an opportunity to be curious - put aside assumptions.
- Share the Air - we all have something to learn and something to share.
- Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative in speaking and listening.
- Don't prioritize or value some knowledges over others.
- Meetings should take place in public spaces, not in private spaces.
- Be aware of and address your place, intentions, power, and value to the place both as an individual and a representative of a group or institution.
- Please respect your fellow participants by using good practices for intercultural collaborations.
- Be respectful and aware of diverse experiences and histories as current relationships and collaborations are shaped by colonial histories.
- The relationship between researchers and community should be reciprocal rather than extractive.
- Please ask people, including Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge Holders, for explicit permission to use stories, ideas, and information shared during this meeting or future collaborations.
- Do not appropriate knowledge shared during this meeting or future collaborations.
- Be Accountable: When we fail to meet these guidelines, work together to identify problems and adjust our approach accordingly.
Expected Behavior
- All participants are treated with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
- Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
- Communicate openly with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
- Acknowledge the contributions of others.
- Avoid personal attacks directed toward any participants.
- Not knowingly make false or misleading statement(s) (or engage in activities) that could be viewed as offensive or defamatory to a Conference participant or organization.
- Be mindful of your surroundings, of your fellow participants, and of Meeting etiquette. Respect scheduling and direction from a Chair, Moderator, Facilitator or Leader.
- Alert ASSW organizers if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.
- Participating in ASSW meetings assumes that individuals have consented to their presentation being recorded; meeting organizers will be explicit when they are recording and sharing any meeting materials.
- Respect the rules and policies of Conference venues / facilities / platforms.
- Report any concerns regarding the Conference or participant statements or behaviors directly to ASSW organizers.
Unacceptable Behavior
The ASSW 2032 specifically prohibits posting conference materials, screenshots of chat room discussions or comments, questions, recordings of the conference outside of our on-site and virtual space without consent. Online / In-Person and Hybrid events need to be safe spaces for discussions.
- Harassment, intimidation, violence or discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.
- Abuse (verbal, written, or physical) of any participant or other ASSW guest, including intentional use of incorrect pronouns.
- Use of social or mainstream media to target individual actions of ASSW participants in a way that could harm their privacy and/or reputation.
- Disruption of presentations at ASSW meetings, sessions, or at other events organized around ASSW at the meeting venue, hotels, or other contracted platforms / facilities.
- Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest.
Working Together for a Successful Meeting
It is important that all attendees feel safe and supported. All should be empowered to find an ally that they trust so that nobody is left to deal with issues alone. We hope that you feel free to reach out to IASC and ASSW 2023 leadership with any comments or concerns.
- The ASSW 2023 Chair is Wolfgang Schöner,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - The ASSW 2023 Conference Manager is Khaled Hakami,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - The Conference Service of the University of Vienna can be reached at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - The IASC President is Henry Burgess,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - The IASC Executive Secretary is Gerlis Fugmann,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety is advised to contact conference management (or emergency services, if merited).
We expect all participants to follow the rules of this code of conduct. Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately. Event organizers may take action to address anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender and excluding them from the conference with no refund depending on the severity of the violation.
This Code of Conduct has been used for all ASSWs since 2020. It is built off and modeled on the American Geophysical Union Meeting Code of Conduct, the ArcticNet Event Code of Conduct, the SEARCH Arctic Futures 2050 Conference Code of Conduct, the SACNAS 2019 Code of Conduct, Kūlana Noi‘i, the First Alaskans Institute’s Our Agreements, Kawerak New Teachers Guidelines, and the UCAR/NCAR Rising Voices Participant Code of Conduct. Sincere thanks to those who put hard work, thought, and intentionality into those documents!