Code of Conduct

During its NeuroFrance meeting, the French Neuroscience Society aims to provide a respectful, harassment-free and inclusive environment for all participants, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, appearance, ethnicity, race, national origin, pregnancy, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, age or religion.

All participants, including speakers, exhibitors, poster presenters, media, staff and any other attendee, are expected to behave with integrity and respect towards other participants attending or involved with the NeuroFrance meeting and/or any related event or activity.

The present Code of Conduct supplements, but does not affect, the application of other relevant policies, regulations, rules and laws. The French Neuroscience Society complies with such policies and will report all inappropriate conduct accordingly.

The French Neuroscience Society is committed to informing NeuroFrance participants about this Code of Conduct. Likewise, the French Neuroscience Society is committed to installing procedures and guidance for appropriate reporting of unacceptable behaviour of any kind.

How to report an incident?

In case of breach of the Code of Conduct or any other law, the concerned individual or witnesses are invited to report it in the following ways:

  • For immediate action onsite, contact any French Neuroscience Society staff member at our booth. If the booth is unattended or closed, go to the registration counter.
  • If you feel threatened, do not hesitate to approach a security person onsite.
  • In addition to reporting to the meeting organisers, individuals may report aggressions to the French Police, which can be reached at the emergency number 17 or at the European emergency number 112. Do not hesitate to ask French Neuroscience Society staff or security personnel if you need assistance.

The French Neuroscience Society will preserve the anonymity of the person who report an incident. If any enforcement action requires the breach of this anonymity, it will only be applied after informed consent is obtained from the concerned individual.

Enforcement

NeuroFrance organisers reserve the right to take any action to prevent and report any violation of the present Code of Conduct if necessary. The necessary actions will be decided on a case-by-case basis, and can include the following:

  • involving the onsite security and medical team
  • filing a police report
  • reporting to host institutions of reported individuals
  • permanent removal from the NeuroFrance meeting and any related event/activity.

The French Neuroscience Society cannot investigate reports of harassment or other misconduct onsite, but will refer victims to the appropriate authorities and will inform the relevant department(s) of the offender’s host institution about any registered reports.

Harassment

Harassment consists of improper and/or unwelcome conduct that might reasonably be perceived as causing offence and/or humiliation to another person. Harassment may involve any conduct of a verbal, non-verbal or physical nature, including written and electronic communication. Harassment in any form is not tolerated at the NeuroFrance meeting.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • Comments (verbal or written) that reinforce social structures of domination related, for example, to career status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, race, age, religion, political affiliation
  • Any form of bullying or abuse of power through coercion, manipulation, etc.
  • Unwelcomed sexual attention
  • Inappropriate physical contact
  • Deliberate intimidation, humiliation, stalking or following
  • Sustained disruption of poster presentations, talks, sessions or other events
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviours.

Required behaviour inside and around the NeuroFrance venue

NeuroFrance badges indicating the name of the person in possession of the attendee or exhibitor’s badge, should always be visibly worn inside the restricted areas of the meeting venue.

All events (including special sessions and exhibit hall activities) are exclusively reserved for registered participants. Non-registered individuals will not be permitted in any of the event areas.

Mobile-phone, tablets, computers and other electronic devices must be set to silent mode during all scientific sessions of the NeuroFrance meeting.

Smoking is prohibited inside the entire congress center. Smoking outside is permitted according to the specific guidelines of the venue.

Where alcoholic beverages are available in the context of the meeting, participants are expected to drink responsibly. Individuals that are visibly under the influence of alcohol or other legal or illegal substances will be escorted from the NeuroFrance venue and will not be allowed re-entry.

Participants should express cultural sensitivity and respect towards all NeuroFrance participants with regards but not limited to clothing and appearance.

Safety

Bags, containers or suitcases may not be left unattended at any time in or around the venue. The NeuroFrance meeting offers a designated cloak room for such effects. The meeting organisers furthermore advises participants to use hotel safety deposit boxes for all valuables. The French Neuroscience Society takes no responsibility for lost and stolen items in or around the meeting venue.

The meeting organisers do not accept liability for personal accidents, loss, or damage to private property, which may incur as a result of the participation in the NeuroFrance meeting. Participants are advised to secure appropriate insurance (health, travel, theft, or otherwise) for their stay and travel to and from the meeting.

Use of camera and video

The French Neuroscience Society follows the guideline for consent related to the use of pictures with identifiable persons in a public space under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Recordings via video, photography or other means of NeuroFrance participants is in general allowed as long as people are not shown in incriminatory or private situations and images are not used in a misleading or derogatory way. Any publication of photos or videos on social media requires the clear consent of all participants. It is highly recommended for anyone to obtain permission before the sharing of such content, including on social media.

By registering to the NeuroFrance meeting, participants, presenters and exhibitors agree that the French Neuroscience Society shall be entitled to use images of NeuroFrance collected by the French Neuroscience Society photographer for use in future promotional materials. If participants, presenters or exhibitors do not agree, they can object to such use by sending an email to colloque@societe-neurosciences.fr before the end of the meeting.

Social media

The French Neuroscience Society encourages open and respectful discussions on social media and blogging platforms. Nonetheless, participants are requested to not post images or videos online without obtaining appropriate permission. Participants are requested to respect any request from an author not to disseminate the contents of their presentation/poster. Participants who do not respect these provisions will themselves be fully liable for any claims made in this regard.

Secure behavior

Participants at NeuroFrance are encouraged to observe safe practices while traveling and attending the meeting.