Attendee Code of Conduct

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. BY REGISTERING FOR OR PARTICIPATING IN AN ISMRM/ISMRT MEETING, EVENT, PLATFORM, OR ACTIVITY, YOU AGREE TO FOLLOW THIS CODE OF CONDUCT.

ISMRM and ISMRT are committed to providing a safe, respectful, inclusive, and productive environment for scientific exchange, education, collaboration, and professional development.

This Code applies to all participants, including attendees, members, speakers, moderators, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, contractors, guests, staff, and Society leadership. It applies to in-person, virtual, hybrid, social, exhibitor, sponsor, committee, governance, and Society-related events and communications.

Expected Conduct

All participants are expected to:

  • treat others with respect, professionalism, and consideration;
  • engage constructively with individuals from different regions, backgrounds, disciplines, career stages, and areas of expertise;
  • respect different viewpoints and experiences;
  • provide feedback and critique in a constructive and objective manner;
  • respect personal boundaries;
  • comply with meeting, venue, virtual platform, and Society rules.
Unacceptable Conduct

Unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form;
  • sexual harassment, including unwelcome sexual comments, advances, images, jokes, or touching;
  • physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, sponsor, staff member, contractor, or guest;
  • demeaning jokes, slurs, stereotypes, threats, or hostile comments;
  • disruption of sessions, presentations, exhibits, meetings, receptions, or virtual activities;
  • unwanted photography, recording, communication, or contact after being asked to stop;
  • sharing private communications, images, recordings, or personal information without consent;
  • retaliation against anyone who reports a concern, supports another participant, or participates in a review.

Conduct intended as humor or a joke may still violate this policy if it is unwelcome, offensive, intimidating, or unprofessional.

Reporting a Concern

If you experience, witness, or become aware of unacceptable conduct, please report it as soon as possible.

The Society will acknowledge reports, explain the next steps, and follow up with the person reporting the concern to communicate its response, subject to privacy considerations. If the Society cannot take further action or a concern falls outside its responsibility, we will explain that limitation and, where possible, identify an appropriate organization or reporting channel.

Reports may be made to:

Anne-Marie Kahrovic
Executive Director
anne-marie@ismrm.org

For urgent on-site concerns, participants may also contact Society staff at the registration desk, meeting information desk, or on-site Society office.

If there is an immediate threat to safety, contact venue security, local emergency services, or law enforcement.

Society Response

The role of the ISMRM & ISMRT is to support a safe and respectful environment; the Society can address participation and conduct within Society meetings, events, platforms, and activities. The Society does not conduct formal legal or institutional investigations or resolve employment or supervisory disputes. Where appropriate, we may refer individuals to an employer, institution, or other appropriate authority.

The Society will review reports and take action it determines appropriate. Actions may include, but are not limited to:

  • warning the individual;
  • removing the individual from a session, event, meeting, exhibit hall, reception, or virtual platform;
  • revoking registration without refund;
  • restricting attendance at future ISMRM/ISMRT meetings or activities;
  • removing the individual from speaking, moderating, committee, volunteer, or leadership roles;
  • contacting venue security, law enforcement, an employer, institution, sponsor, or exhibitor company, when appropriate.

The Society will make reasonable efforts to protect privacy, but confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

The Society may engage an independent external professional to assess a report and assist with its response, when appropriate.