The overarching aim of this Code of Conduct is to ensure that Venom Day will be a safe, welcoming and inclusive occasion for all.

Expected behaviour:

Treat everyone with respect;

Communicate openly and thoughtfully with others, and value a diversity of views and opinions that may differ to your own; being respectful and mindful in your critique of ideas or others’ research, particularly during scientific discussions;

Respecting the rules and policies of Bangor University and all venues associated with Venom Day including conference-related social events at off-site locations and on social media;

This Policy prohibits the following categories of misconduct:

Discrimination or harassment based on gender or gender identity or expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, age, creed, colour, disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, ethnicity, military status, genetic information, national origin, or culture;

Harassment and intimidation, including any verbal, written, or physical conduct designed to threaten, intimidate, or coerce delegates, conference organisers;

Sexual harassment, including any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours, or other unwanted behaviour or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature;

Retaliation, which includes any adverse action against an individual or groups of individuals on the basis of filing a complaint, cooperating with an investigation, or otherwise participating in the procedures under the Venom Day Code of Conduct;

Intimidation and bullying, such as unwanted and/or aggressive behaviour between parties that involves a real or perceived power imbalance;

Unacceptable behaviour, including but not limited to physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, exhibitor, service provider or other meeting guest; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations; threatening, shaming, or stalking any Venom Day participant; disrespectful or purposeful disruption of presentations; inappropriate comments presented in a joking manner;

Not abiding by the rules and policies of all venues associated with Venom Day; for example, eating, drinking or consuming alcohol outside of designated areas, smoking other than in designated areas, consumption of prohibited substances, or assembling for the purpose of committing an unlawful act.

Broadcasting Policy:

Photographs of delegates will be taken during the conference for advertising on social media. If a delegate has a photo taken where few people are in the photo, they reserve the right to tell the photographer to remove the photo from social media or delete the photo. If a presenter does not want information from their presentation to be broadcasted on social media, they should make this clear in their talk/poster and we ask that attendees respect this.

Reporting Unacceptable Behaviour:

Anyone filing a complaint concerning a violation of the Venom Day Code of Conduct must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed. Any allegations made with a malicious intent or knowingly false will be viewed as violation of the Venom Day Code of Conduct (see prohibited categories, i.e., retaliation, of misconduct above).

Violations of the Venom Day Code of Conduct by a delegate should be reported by the complainant to a conference organiser. Any unacceptable behaviour by Venom Day committee members should be reported to another conference organiser. 

The reported complaint should be made verbally, preferably immediately after the violation has occurred, and then later with a written report. The report should include all the pertinent documentation needed to investigate the violation (including but not limited to date, time, misconduct observed, name of the person accused, and names of others who may have witnessed the misconduct). Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation or to the extent allowed by law. All complaints will be treated seriously and responded to promptly by at least two members of the organising committee.

No Venom Day participant that in good faith reports a violation of the Venom Day Code of Conduct shall suffer harassment, retaliation, or adverse consequence from the conference organisers. It is a violation of the Venom Day Code of Conduct for an alleged offender to harass, retaliate, or adversely act toward a complainant who in good faith reports a potential violation.

Procedure for Code Violations

If you are experiencing or witnessing behaviour that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to your personal safety (i.e., threats of bodily harm), contact the emergency services (999) immediately. If it is not obvious how to contact the emergency services, contact a conference organiser. If this situation arises, please also notify a conference organiser as soon as possible, at a time that is safe.

If necessary, the organisers, will determine how best to investigate any violation, determine whether it is necessary to meet with the individual(s) involved to apprise them of the complaint, discuss the situation, and possibly take actions to limit interactions between the individuals involved depending on the severity and nature of the event. For example, actions may include a written or verbal warning against a violation (of which the person warned is expected to immediately comply), expulsion from the conference at any time without a refund, and/or being banned from future Venom Day events.

If presentations or any critiques of other’s work include offensive, discriminatory or disrespectful elements, the conference organisers reserve the right to interrupt the presentation/discussion and ask the offending person to cease engaging in the inappropriate behaviour. 

Conference organisers reserve the right to cancel delegates’ tickets prior to or during the event at any time should violations to the Venom Day Code of Conduct be deemed to have occurred, or if there are grounds for considering the presence of an individual incompatible with the overall aim of providing a safe and welcoming environment. Conference organisers also hold the right to initiate a temporary ban or permanent ban.