Code of conduct for IAVCEI meetings and events

The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) convenes meetings and events that are welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative.

IAVCEI’s Code of Conduct applies to all events organized by IAVCEI, as well as any event that is affiliated to IAVCEI, such as field work, summer schools, network and commission activities and/or break-out activities during IAVCEI events. This Code of Conduct applies to IAVCEIsponsored and -endorsed activities, whether in public or at private facilities, as well as to any working or task group, committee meeting or any other form of activity held under IAVCEI’s name or affiliated with IAVCEI. IAVCEI reserves the right to amend and update this Code of Conduct at any time.

Expected Behaviour

  • Treat one-and-all with respect.
  • Use proper practices for intercultural collaborations (see “Towards inclusive collaboration in volcanology: guidelines for best‑engagement protocols in international collaboration”, a publication of the IAVCEI network INVOLC).
  • Be culturally and ethically aware of your surroundings, and abide to all protocols and laws.
  • Respect local customs and be socially aware.
  • Respect the needs and feelings of your fellow participants.
  • Provide your full and correct professional identity and affiliation.
  • Where appropriate, provide requested contact information and presentation information.
  • Respect rules regarding copyright and re-use of presented material and ideas.
  • Understand when you may need to obtain permission regarding copying material.
  • Respect the rules and policies of any meeting venue.
  • Respect the rules, property and staff of any IAVCEI-contracted facility or venue.
  • This includes hotels, restaurants and any other facility at which you are an attendee.
  • Be responsible and accountable at all times.

Organizers of IAVCEI events are also bound by the IAVCEI code of conduct and must engage in adequately informing all participants of any event of arrangements regarding logistics, accommodation, health and safety, and expected conduct. If we, as organizers or participants of a meeting or event, fail to meet these expectations and receive feedback to that effect, we must work together to identify problems and adjust policy and practice accordingly. 

Anyone not meeting expected behaviour can be immediately removed from the online or physical event. They may also be banned from future IAVCEI meetings or experience other sanctions, depending on the specifics of the disruptive or disrespectful behaviour, including revocation of their IAVEI membership with no refund.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour may include but are not limited to:

  • Promoting, or participating in, any form of harassment and/or bullying.
  • Engaging in “parachute science” or geo-colonialism towards local scientists or general public during events including field trips.
  • Discrimination or intimidation on-site, on-line, and/or over social media.
  • Physical, verbal, written, or any other form of abuse of any attendee, presenter, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, guest, or any member of the general public. Examples include, but are not limited to, comments related to:
    • gender identity;
    • sexual orientation;
    • disability;
    • physical appearance;
    • body size / weight;
    • ethnicity and/or national origin;
    • religion;
    • socioeconomic background.
  • Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces and in presentations.
  • Threatening or intimidating behaviour, and stalking, in-person or online.
  • Disruptive and disrespectful behaviour
  • Disallowing participation by others.
  • Physical or verbal abuse.
  • Breaking of meeting rules.
  • Use of social or mainstream media to target individual actions in a way that could harm their privacy or professional status, this includes potentially slanderous or libellous action and covers all forms of defamation.
  • Knowingly violating copyright or copying presenter information without obtaining permission.
  • Plagiarism, falsification of data, failure to recognize contributions of others, and/or claiming others´ work as your own.
  • Any criminal offense.

Consequences and reporting of unacceptable behaviour

  • Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behaviour must comply immediately.
  • IAVCEI staff, their designees and/or security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate. This includes, but is not limited to, immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund.
  • If an IAVCEI Code of Conduct violation occurs, then IAVCEI staff have the authority to take all necessary steps to (i) ensure the safety of meeting participants, (ii) avoid further disruption, and (iii) prevent further harm, damage and/or misdemeanour.
  • IAVCEI reserves the right to (i) prohibit attendance of any future IAVCEI-sponsored meeting, and/or (ii) revoke IAVCEI membership.
  • Confidentiality of all incidents will be maintained as long as it does not infringe on another party´s rights.

Agreement to follow the IAVCEI Code of Conduct

As part of registration for any IAVCEI meeting or event, all attendees must provide their true and correct professional name, primary affiliation and requested contact information.

IAVCEI attendees should be aware that IAVCEI staff and designates monitor and moderate attendee posts mentioning IAVCEI and using hashtags associated with a meeting.

Failure to follow the above guidelines may result in posts being blocked or other actions being taken.

Acknowledgement and agreement to abide by the IAVCEI Code of Conduct is required at registration for any on-site or online event:

Adapted with permission from the AGU Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics code of conduct, updated December 2024

Download Code of conduct in PDF