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CODE OF CONDUCT

Equity Statement

 

The Genetics Society of AustralAsia (GSA) aims to promote a culture of inclusion and equity, and we welcome and encourage participation by members regardless of gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, disability, physical appearance, faith, age, pregnancy, parental/carer status, socioeconomic background, or political belief.

 

The society is committed to supporting diversity in all of its activities, including diversity in membership, leadership, recognition and outreach. We are committed to providing accessible opportunities wherever possible, and to making reasonable adjustments to support participation by members of all abilities.

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Event Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct applies to all Genetics Society of AustralAsia (GSA) events and activities, whether in person, hybrid, or online, including conferences, seminars, social gatherings, networking functions, and official communications platforms. It applies equally to all participants, organisers, sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, and volunteers.

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The organisers are committed to making events and activities productive, safe, and enjoyable for everyone, in adherence with the GSA Equity Statement.

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We will not tolerate harassment of participants in any form, whether in person, in writing, or via digital and social media platforms (including event hashtags and private messages). Please follow these guidelines:

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  • Behave professionally. Harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary comments are not appropriate. Harassment includes sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, sexual attention or innuendo, deliberate intimidation and stalking. It also includes offensive comments related to gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, disability, physical appearance, faith, age, pregnancy, parental/carer status, socioeconomic background, or political belief.

  • All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds.

  • Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other attendees.

  • Support each other. Participants who witness behaviour that violates this Code of Conduct are encouraged to report it and, where safe to do so, support those targeted.

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Participants asked to stop any inappropriate behaviour are expected to comply immediately. Attendees violating these rules may be asked to leave the event at the sole discretion of the organisers without a refund of any charge. Retaliation against anyone making a complaint or participating in an investigation will not be tolerated.

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Reporting process: Any participant who wishes to report a violation of this policy is asked to speak, in confidence, to a member of the GSA Committee or the Event Organising Committee. Reports will be handled promptly, with confidentiality maintained to the extent possible.

 

This code of conduct has been expanded from the “London Code of Conduct“, as originally designed for the conference “Accurate Astrophysics. Correct Cosmology”, held in London in July 2015. The London Code of Conduct was adapted with permission by Andrew Pontzen and Hiranya Peiris from a document by Software Carpentry (http://software-carpentry.org/conduct.html), which itself derives from original Creative Commons documents by PyCon and Geek Feminism. It is released under a CC-Zero licence for reuse. To help track people’s improvements and best practice, please retain this acknowledgement, and log your re-use or modification of this policy at https://github.com/apontzen/london_cc.

 

Equity Statement and Event Code of Conduct updated 22/08/2025

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