<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SCOPOSIS 2025, its organising institutes and sponsorers\u00a0are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to the free and robust exchange of scientific ideas. This environment requires that all participants be treated with equal consideration and respect. While SCOPOSIS 2025, its organising institutes and sponsorers\u00a0encourage vigorous debate of ideas, personal attacks create an environment in which people feel threatened or intimidated. This is not productive and does not advance the cause of science. All participants in SCOPOSIS 2025 events and activities are therefore expected to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the policy of SCOPOSIS 2025 that all forms of bullying, discrimination\u00a0and harassment, sexual or otherwise, are prohibited in any SCOPOSIS 2025 and its organising institute-managed events or activities. This policy applies to every individual at the event, whether attendee, speaker, exhibitor, award recipient, staff, contractor or other. It is also a violation of this policy to retaliate against an individual for reporting bullying, discrimination or harassment or to intentionally file a false report of bullying, discrimination\u00a0or harassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullying, discrimination and harassment of any sort by someone in a position of power, prestige or authority is particularly harmful since those of lower status or rank may be hesitant to express their objections or discomfort out of fear of retaliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SCOPOSIS 2025, its organising institutes and sponsorers may take any disciplinary action it deems appropriate if, after thorough investigation, it finds a violation occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For purposes of this policy, \u201cBullying,\u201d \u201cDiscrimination,\u201d \u201cHarassment\u201d (including \u201cSexual Harassment\u201d) and \u201cRetaliation\u201d are defined as follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullying<\/strong> is the ongoing abuse and intentional mistreatment of one or more vulnerable persons or groups by a more powerful individual or group. Bullying consists of repeated verbal (name-calling, verbal attacks), physical (use of physical force or aggression) and\/or social behavior (ostracism, exclusion, spreading rumors) that causes physical or psychological harm. Being \u201cmore powerful\u201d may include being physically bigger or stronger, having more social status or having influence over someone\u2019s employment or professional advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discrimination<\/strong> is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of categories of people based on personal attributes such as race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, body size, ethnic or national origin, disability, religion, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation or other attributes not related to the merit of one\u2019s work or scientific research or ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harassment<\/strong> consists of unwanted, unwelcomed and uninvited behavior that demeans, threatens or offends another and results in a hostile environment. Harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to, the use of epithets, derogatory comments or slurs, assault, stalking, impeding or blocking movement, threats of violence, offensive touching, any physical interference with normal work or movement and visual insults, such as derogatory images, posters or cartoons. Harassment is often (but not always) based upon personal attributes such as race, sex, age, gender, color, sexual orientation, body size, ethnic or national origin and disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sexual harassment<\/strong> consists of harassing behavior based upon sex, gender or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors (often accompanied by overt or implied promises or threats relating to employment, professional advancement or recognition), lewd comments or images, or other verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature where such conduct creates an unreasonable, intimidating, hostile or sexually offensive environment and may interfere with the target\u2019s professional performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Retaliation<\/strong> consists of negative action or treatment towards someone who has reported bullying, discrimination or harassment based upon such report. Retaliation may include terminating or demoting a reporting employee, excluding a reporting individual from work or professional activities, injuring a reporting individual\u2019s professional or personal reputation or unjustly demeaning a reporting individual\u2019s work. Retaliation can be used as a method of bullying or harassment, but more importantly retaliation creates an environment that discourages victims and bystanders from reporting offensive behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Individuals may be unaware that their conduct is offensive and are often willing to correct their behavior if so informed. If you experience or witness bullying, discrimination or harassment and feel empowered to do so, you are encouraged to immediately inform the individual that their comments or behavior are unwelcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Optica understands that direct confrontation is not possible or advisable in every situation. Please note that you are not<\/u><\/em><\/strong> required to directly address or confront a person engaged in offensive behavior. If you do not feel comfortable addressing the violator, or if the violator continues the behavior after being advised that their conduct is unwelcome, you should report the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you wish to report bullying, discrimination or harassment you have witnessed or experienced, you may do so through the following methods: Anti-Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct SCOPOSIS 2025, its organising institutes and sponsorers\u00a0are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to the free and…<\/p>\nWhat should I do if I experience or witness bullying, discrimination or harassment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do I report an incident?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Contact any SCOPOSIS 2025 organizing committee member (You can locate them through their badges)
\u2022 Email to scopconf@gmail.com or prlopticachap@prl.res.in.
\u2022 Contact Chairperson of SCOPOSIS 2025. Contact information: Prof. Goutam Samanta, contact no.: +91 9662854369, e-mail: gsamanta@prl.res.in\/ gsamanta@gmail.com
You are also encouraged to write down as many relevant details as you can recall (e.g. names, dates, times, locations, behaviour or statements made, etc.), which can be helpful in assisting any future investigation of the incident. To ensure a fair and complete investigation, anonymous reports of bullying, discrimination or harassment cannot be accepted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"