TIBS Code of Conduct/ Anti-Harassment Policy
The International Biogeography Society (TIBS; www.biogeography.org) is dedicated to ensuring a harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity/expression, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, age, language spoken, national origin, and/or religion. As an international, professional organization with community members from across the globe, the TIBS is committed to providing a respectful environment where discussions take place and ideas are shared without threat of belittlement, condescension, or harassment in any form. This applies to all interactions with the Society and its programs/events, whether in a formal conference session, in a social setting, or online.
The TIBS community is defined as both members and non-members who participate in the TIBS activities in person or online. The TIBS community comes from across the globe, bringing members with a wide variety of professional, personal, and social backgrounds; whatever these may be, we treat members with dignity and respect, being diligent to communicate clearly and conduct ourselves in ways that are unlikely to cause offense. While the language of communication is generally English, we realize that this is not the native language for most of our community. As such, we take this into consideration and realize that miscommunications can occur . Likewise, we recognize that cultural norms vary and what may be acceptable or unacceptable for one group of people may not hold true for another. As such, we ask that community members strive to create a friendly, considerate, and respectful environment in which all feel comfortable.
Harassment and/or other exclusionary behavior is not acceptable. Harassment includes, but is not limited to offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, religion, culture, language spoken, etc.; posting sexually explicit or violent images in public spaces; discriminatory jokes; deliberate intimidation; violent threats or language directed against another person; stalking; persistent, unwanted following; harassing photography or video recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Please note that this policy applies to anyone associating with the TIBS in person or online. This includes sponsors, TIBS vendors, exhibit booth personnel, and any permanent or temporary TIBS staff, including contractors (security, registration help, room monitors, volunteers etc.).
Those participating in TIBS activities who violate the TIBS’ Code of Conduct / Anti-Harassment Policy may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference and/or have their membership revoked without a refund at the discretion of the TIBS.
Reporting Harassment
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please
email incident.report@biogeography.org or come to the membership table at the conference if you'd prefer to speak in person. Alternatively, you may contact any member of the TIBS Board of Directors. The TIBS
takes all reports of harassment seriously and will follow up on them as appropriate. Please note that all reports are kept confidential. Retaliation in any form against anyone reporting an incident of harassment, independent of the outcome, will not be tolerated.
If the offense occurs at a conference, the TIBS staff will immediately assist participants with contacting hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise help those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance. We expect participants to follow these rules at all conference-related activities, no matter where they are held.
If the offense occurs in some other forum, the TIBS will address the issue as appropriate. We take all reports of harassment seriously.
Additional code of conduct at TIBS2026
Attendees are encouraged to:
Ask respectful questions and avoid dominating a presenter’s question time to further any particular agenda. Question time after a talk is intended to give presenters the opportunity to expand on their talk in response to audience questions, and is not a platform for the audience to individually reply.
Actively include all attendees in social gatherings, particularly those for whom English is not a first-language and early career students.
