Palaeoverse Code of Conduct

Palaeoverse was established in 2022 as a community-driven initiative dedicated to advancing open science through shared tools, training, and resources. To help ensure that our community remains inclusive and respectful, we feel that it is important to establish some expectations of behaviour when interacting within our spaces.

Scope

This Code of Conduct (CoC) applies to all individuals interacting in all Palaeoverse community spaces and activities, whether conducted in person or online. This includes, but is not limited to, GitHub repositories, Zulip channels, lecture series, workshops, meetings, and other community-sponsored events. In using these platforms, individuals confirm that they understand the CoC and consent to their behaviour being held against the standards defined in this document.

The CoC also applies to individuals when they are representing Palaeoverse or its community in public or professional contexts. Representation of the community may include, but is not limited to, the use of an official Palaeoverse email address, posting through an official social media account, or serving as a designated representative at online or in-person events.

Our Pledge

We as members, contributors, and leaders of Palaeoverse strive to make participation in our community a harassment-free experience for everyone, irrespective of personal characteristics such as age, body size, visible or invisible disability, ethnicity, sex characteristics, gender identity and expression, level of experience, education, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, marital status, parental status, or sexual identity and orientation.

We promise to act and interact in ways that foster an open, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and healthy community.

Our Standards

Examples of behavior that contribute to a positive environment for our community include:

Demonstrating empathy and kindness towards other people
Being respectful of differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences
Giving and gracefully accepting constructive feedback
Accepting responsibility and apologising to those affected by our mistakes, and learning from the experience
Focusing on what is best not just for us as individuals, but for the overall community

Examples of unacceptable behavior include:

The use of sexualized language or imagery, and sexual attention or advances of any kind
Trolling, insulting or derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks
Public or private harassment
Publishing others’ private information, such as a physical or email address, without their explicit permission
Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting

Enforcement

Any conduct that poses an immediate or significant threat to the safety of individuals or the public, or that may constitute a criminal offence, should be reported promptly to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Instances of other abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or otherwise unacceptable behavior that contradict the terms laid out in this CoC may be reported to Pedro Godoy and Bethany Allen via the “Report Misconduct” form linked at the bottom of the Code of Conduct Page on our website. Alternatively, if the breach of rules occurs during an in-person meeting and requires immediate action, the incident can be reported (either by email or in-person) to one of the physically-present Palaeoverse team members. Where possible, individuals making a report are encouraged to provide any information or supporting documentation that may assist in understanding and addressing the concerns raised.

Anonymous reporting is available through the “Report Misconduct” form; however, it should be understood that this form of complaint may limit the ability of those responsible for reviewing the report to seek clarification, request additional information, or provide updates regarding the outcome. Anonymous reports will nevertheless be considered and addressed to the greatest possible extent.

Individuals who do not feel comfortable using the reporting form may instead contact members of the Palaeoverse Core Team directly via email. Reports will be handled as confidentially as possible, consistent with the need to investigate concerns and protect the safety and well-being of community members. All members of the community who receive reports are obligated to respect the privacy and security of the reporter of any incident.

Enforcement Procedure

All complaints will be reviewed and investigated promptly and fairly. Upon receiving the report, a meeting will be convened comprising at least three Palaeoverse Core Team members. If any Palaeoverse Core Team Member has a close professional or personal relationship with any of the parties involved, they should declare a conflict of interest and excuse themself from the meeting/decision making.

Meetings will aim to convene as soon as possible, and at least within 14 days of the complaint being received. If the complaint is made during an in-person event (e.g. workshop), the meeting should ideally occur on the same day as the report’s receival.

Once the Palaeoverse Core Team members present at the meeting have reviewed the complaint, they will determine whether any further information from the reporter and/or the reported party is required and will contact the appropriate party/parties to acquire this. Both parties should use this opportunity to provide any additional information they deem pertinent to the case. Once a decision has been reached, both the reporter and reported party (if previously contacted by Palaeoverse relating to the investigation) will receive written confirmation detailing any actions to be taken.

The reported party will be permitted to appeal the decision in the case of any new information coming to light. Once this information has been received, an additional meeting should be held by the Palaeoverse Core Team members, following the same timeline as laid out above for the initial report.

All Palaeoverse Core Team members retain the right and responsibility to immediately remove or reject written or spoken comments, posts, commits, code, wiki edits, issues, and other contributions that are not aligned with this CoC without the need to convene a meeting. They will communicate reasons for their moderation decisions when appropriate. Consequences for the responsible party will be determined following a meeting of at least three Palaeoverse Core Team members. The party responsible for the breach of conduct will receive written confirmation detailing any consequences in line with our “Enforcement Responsibilities”.

Enforcement Responsibilities

Palaeoverse Core Team members are responsible for clarifying and enforcing our standards of acceptable behavior and will aim to take appropriate and fair corrective action in response to any behavior that they deem inappropriate, threatening, offensive, or harmful.

The following guidelines will be used by Palaeoverse Core Team members in determining the consequences for any action they deem in violation of this Code of Conduct:

1. Correction

Offence: Use of inappropriate language or other behavior deemed unprofessional or unwelcome in the community.

Consequence: A private, written warning from the Palaeoverse Core Team will be issued, providing clarity around the nature of the violation and an explanation of why the behavior was inappropriate. An apology to the impacted individuals may be requested.

2. Warning

Offence: A violation through a single incident, or a series of actions that have previously resulted in a correction.

Consequence: A formal warning will be issued, with additional consequences for any continued misconduct. The individual will be prohibited, for a specified period, from interacting with the people involved, including any unsolicited contact with those responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct. This prohibition applies across all community spaces and external communication channels, including social media. Any violation of these restrictions may result in a temporary or permanent ban.

3. Temporary Ban

Offence: A serious violation of community standards, including sustained inappropriate behavior that has previously warranted corrections or warnings.

Consequence: A temporary ban will be imposed, prohibiting all participation, interaction, and public communication within the community. The duration of the ban will be determined on a case-by-case basis. During this period, the individual must not engage in any public or private contact with the people involved, including any unsolicited communication with those responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct. Violation of these restrictions may result in a permanent ban.

4. Permanent Ban

Offence: An incident of gross misconduct, a pattern of violation of community standards (including sustained inappropriate behavior, harassment of an individual, or aggression toward or disparagement of classes of individuals), or breaking of a temporary ban.

Consequence: A permanent ban will be enforced, prohibiting all participation, engagement, and public interaction within the community.

Attribution

This Code of Conduct is adapted from the Contributor Covenant and takes inspiration from The Palaeontological Association’s Ethic’s code.

Enforcement Responsibilities were inspired by Mozilla’s code of conduct enforcement ladder.