Each week in the summer and winter sessions, the Aspen Center for Physics (ACP) welcomes a diverse community of researchers to work on open problems and share ideas and results about the most exciting topics in physics and related fields. In so doing, the ACP strives to provide an inclusive environment for all participants, including attendees, organizers, ACP staff, and volunteers. Participants are expected to act professionally and to treat each other with respect and consideration to create a collegial, welcoming environment that enables open scientific exchange. As this is a collective responsibility, all prospective ACP participants must agree to abide by and uphold this Code of Conduct as a condition of participation in the Center’s programs.
Participants will avoid any inappropriate actions or statements that target individual characteristics such as ability status, age, caste, educational background, ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, nationality, political affiliation, race, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Disruptive, discriminatory, or harassing behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, inappropriate or intimidating behavior and language, unwelcome jokes or comments, unwanted touching or attention, displaying offensive images, and stalking. Retaliation of any form against anyone who reports a violation of this Code or assists in resolving a situation will not be tolerated.
All Aspen Center for Physics participants are empowered to request that behavior inconsistent with the Code of Conduct (CoC) be stopped. Participants asked to cease any such behavior are expected to comply immediately. Each ACP workshop or conference will have two Contact Persons present throughout the duration of the meeting (their roles are discussed further below). Violations of the Code can be reported by any participant to either of the Contact Persons (if the participant is in a workshop or conference) and/or directly to the ACP Administrative Vice President (AVP) in person or anonymously at reportit@aspenphys.org (whether the participant is in a workshop or conference or not). To the extent possible, all verbal and written communications will be treated confidentially and, if requested and possible, the anonymity of the reporter will be preserved. Reports can be made before, during or after participation at the Center, and all reports will be followed up on promptly. This implementation plan will be reviewed periodically and updated based on experience.
Each ACP summer workshop and winter conference will at all times during the meeting have two designated Contact Persons in residence in Aspen, appointed in advance by the workshop or conference organizers with the approval of the ACP President, who agree to serve in these roles. The Contact Persons shall receive and will be expected to familiarize themselves with appropriate training material and guidelines from the Center. The names, residence dates, and contact information for the Contact Persons shall be made known to the workshop/conference participants by the organizers prior to each week of the meeting. The Contact Persons shall be available to workshop/conference participants who are experiencing conflicts or disputes with other ACP participants. Participants may contact either or both of the Contact Persons. The Contact Persons will work with the participants who consult them to identify options for managing and resolving disputes and conflicts. This includes providing advice and support and potentially acting as mediators to help resolve the situation. Regardless of the outcome, the Contact Persons will promptly inform the AVP of the events, so that the Center is aware and has a record, the contents of which will only be accessible to the relevant ACP officers (see below). The Contact Persons may also recommend to the AVP that the Center take action to deal with someone who has violated the CoC.
Any ACP participant (workshop/conference participant or individual researcher not affiliated with a workshop) who wishes to discuss or report a violation of the CoC can communicate in confidence directly to the AVP through the channels discussed above. The AVP may thus be contacted either directly by a participant or indirectly by the Contact Persons. In the former case, the AVP will provide advice and support and may also consult with the Contact Person(s) (if the participant is in a workshop or conference) on possible courses of action. If potential action by the Center is warranted, the AVP will bring the situation to the attention of the ACP President, who can consult the ACP Board of Trustees (or the Trustees Executive Committee). The ACP President, on behalf of the Board, will communicate the Center’s action (or lack of action) along with its rationale to the party or parties as appropriate.
