SLB Ethical Policies:

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

In principle and in practice, SLB values and seeks diversity and inclusive practices within the community of our members.

SLB promotes society involvement, innovation, and expanded access to leadership, participation, and award opportunities that maximize engagement across identity groups and professional levels. Identity groups include but are not limited to age, appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic factors, geographic location, nationality, and religion.

SLB leadership is committed to representing a diverse community of members and will act in the best interest of the society and community in these endeavors. 

Code of Conduct

SLB is committed to providing a safe, productive and welcoming environment for all event participants for virtual and in-person events. All participants including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, staff, service providers and others are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct for all society events, meetings, and programs. This Code of Conduct applies to all SLB events including those sponsored by organizations other than SLB but held in conjunction with SLB events, in public or private facilities. The code of conduct is to be followed at all meeting events, in-person or virtual, whether they be focused on scientific content or a social event to encourage professional networking. Information about the Code of Conduct, description of unacceptable behavior and consequences, in addition to being on this webpage, is provided to SLB conference participants during the conference registration process (where all registrants must agree to abide by the policy) and within the mobile application that is used by meeting participants during the conference.

Expected Behavior

  • Treat all participants, attendees, staff, and vendors with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
  • Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
  • Communicate openly with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
  • Avoid personal attacks directed toward other attendees, participants, staff and suppliers/vendors.
  • Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert staff at the registration desk if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.
  • Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue, hotels, contracted facility, or any other venue.
  • No recording of events by any means, including screen capture is allowed.

Unacceptable Behavior

  • Harassment, intimidation or discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.
  • Physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider or other meeting guest will not be tolerated.
  • Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, as well as inappropriate use of sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, and threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider or other meeting guest.
  • Recording or taking photography of another individual’s presentation without the explicit permission is not allowed. Please note the "no tweet" requests as indicated on abstracts and respect the presenters requests during oral presentations whether they be in a plenary, concurrent, or poster session.
  • Disruption of talks at oral or poster sessions, in the exhibit hall or at other events at the meeting venue, hotels, or other contracted facility is not allowed.

Consequences

  • Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
  • Staff (or their designee) or venue security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund.
  • SLB reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting.

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

  • If you are the target of unacceptable behavior or have witnessed any such behavior, please immediately notify a staff member.
  • Notification should be done by contacting a staff person on-site or e-mailing your concern to [email protected]
  • Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety is advised to either tell a security guard or locate a house phone and ask for security.
  • Allegations and potential consequences will be assessed by the meeting organizers, the SLB Executive Director, and SLB Ethics Committee.
  • Documentation of allegations, related review and resulting actions will be maintained by the Society administrative office and communicated to the relevant parties. Handbook procedures related to revocation of membership and/or awards may also be undertaken as determined appropriate by the Rules Committee review of the incident.