The Vision Sciences Society (VSS) is dedicated to the open exchange of ideas and the freedom of thought and expression. We are committed to running a successful meeting that fosters collegiality and celebrates the diversity of the Vision Sciences community. These aims and goals require an environment that recognizes the inherent worth of every person and group, that fosters dignity, understanding, and mutual respect, and that embraces diversity.
To help ensure these goals, each presenter, speaker, and attendee must adhere to the following code of conduct. The expected behavior extends to all sessions, activities, events, and informal gatherings during the conference and to any other activities, in-person or virtual, sponsored or managed by VSS.
Participants who do not comply may be barred from attending the remainder of the VSS conference or barred from participating in other VSS activities or meetings, in-person or virtual. The home institution or employer may be informed of allegations against or violations by their faculty members, trainees, employees, or affiliates.
General Behavior
Participants are expected to respect one another and behave in a civil fashion. Members should respect common sense rules for public behavior, personal interaction, common courtesy, and respect for all meeting participants.
Anti-Discrimination
VSS prohibits discrimination at its meeting against individuals on the basis of factors such as race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, religion, national origin, ancestry, socio-economic status, physical appearance, or different abilities.
Anti-Harassment
To promote an environment that recognizes the inherent worth of every person and group, VSS is dedicated to providing its members and meeting attendees a harassment-free experience. Harassment is unwelcome or hostile behavior, including speech that intimidates or interferes with a person’s participation or opportunity for participation in a conference, event, or program.
Harassment in any form, including but not limited to, harassment based on national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, or any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held, will not be tolerated. Harassment includes the use of abusive or degrading language or gestures, intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Other Unacceptable Behavior
- Publicly sharing screen shots, photographs, video, or audio recording of oral or poster presentations, slides, or question periods without the consent of presenters and/or contributors.
- Making VSS events and resources available to others outside one’s immediate laboratory when membership or registration is required for access. When participating in events, in-person or virtual, attendees must use their own name and not attempt to misrepresent themselves in any way.
- Gaining unauthorized access or making malicious changes to the conference website, conference hosting tools, or any related systems.
- Collecting data without ensuring protocols are in accordance with governing ethical and legal standards.
- Fabrication or misrepresentation of data presented at the conference.
- Inappropriate use of nudity, sexual images, or images that would be reasonably found offensive by the membership.
- Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm.
Violations of code of conduct can be reported to any of the members of the VSS Board of Directors or to Shauney Wilson, the VSS Executive Director and Event Director. Any reports will be handled in the strictest confidence.
Policies have been adapted from other sources including SIGGRAPH and Association for Psychological Sciences.