Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct
1. Introduction
1.1. This Code of Conduct (this Code) is published by the Physics Department of the University of Oxford and applies to all attendees of the UKODM 2026. It sets out expectations of behaviour that the Department / University requires all attendees to adhere to.
1.2. Any breach of this Code by an attendee shall be subject to the disciplinary procedures set out in paragraph 5 below.
2. Professional conduct
Attendees must:
2.1. treat others with dignity and respect, act with integrity, and not intentionally bring the University, its staff or members, or other attendees of UKODM 2026 into disrepute;
2.2. ensure that any professional activities do not unnecessarily put at risk the health, safety or welfare of any person, and must have due regard for the effects on the environment and for the sustainability of any resources;
2.3. support a colleague or any other person for whom they have a duty of care who in good faith raises any concern about a danger, risk, malpractice or wrongdoing that affects others;
2.4. strive to be objective, unbiased and truthful in all aspects of their work, exercising all reasonable due diligence, in presenting quality work to the best of their ability, avoiding bias or unfair influence;
2.5. properly acknowledge and correct any technical errors in their work at the earliest opportunity, and never plagiarise nor claim the credit or benefit for the work of others, nor fabricate, falsify or misrepresent data or results;
2.6. record the source material of their work in an auditable trail for the purposes of any professional scrutiny or quality-based verification, and ensure that those who have made a significant contribution to any piece of work are appropriately acknowledged;
2.7. exhibit honesty, integrity and transparency;
2.8. exemplify professional behaviour in relation to any content that they publish in the public domain, including, without limitation, articles, blogs, and all forms of social media;
2.9. always apply good practice in respect of safeguarding data and information, including but not limited to recognition of potential risks to an ethical principle.
3. Treating all with dignity and respect
3.1. All members and non-members must treat everyone with dignity and respect and must not use their position, personal belief, or opinion, to bully, abuse, victimise, harass or unlawfully discriminate against any other person for any reason whatsoever, whether physically, verbally, through electronic means or in any other way.
3.2. The University will not tolerate harassment on any basis, including that which relates to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, neurodivergence, social status, background, or actual or perceived intellect. Harassment is unacceptable even if it does not fall within any of the categories or examples set out in this Code.
3.3. Harassment can take many forms: Under the Equality Act 2010, it is defined as: unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual; and
(ii) unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or that is related to gender reassignment or sex.
3.4. Harassment can be physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct and includes, but is not limited to, abusive spoken or written words, offensive emails, tweets or comments on social networking sites, offensive images or graffiti, and physical gestures or jokes. It also includes treating someone less favourably because they have submitted, or refused to submit, to such behaviour in the past.
3.5. Attendees must not recklessly or maliciously damage, or attempt to harm, directly or indirectly, the reputation, prospects, businesses or property of others.
3.6. Attendees must not advertise, nor write or publish in any manner, whether in physical copy or in a digital/multimedia format, any material that brings, or may bring, the University into disrepute, is derogatory, or could reasonably be expected to cause offence to any individual member or community of members, or to the dignity of their profession. Attendees must also not authorise any such material to be written or published by others.
4. Confidential reporting and self-reporting
4.1. If any attendee becomes aware of a breach of this Code, they may report the matter to the meeting organisers, who will address such matter in accordance with the disciplinary procedures in the University Regulations.
4.2. Where a breach by an attendee of this Code is also a breach of their employer’s internal code of conduct, or the law, that attendee must inform the relevant employer/authorities of such a breach.
4.3. If an individual feels that they have been harassed or discriminated against by an attendee at the meeting (including, but not limited to, at the venue, accommodation and/or during any related social activities), or has witnessed this occurring, they are encouraged to report this to the meeting organisers, as soon as reasonably practicable. Any report will be treated sensitively, appropriately, and in a timely fashion.
4.4. Meeting participants asked to stop any harassment or discriminatory behaviour are required to comply immediately.
5. Disciplinary procedures
If a participant engages in harassment or discriminatory behaviour then, the meeting organisers may take any necessary action including expulsion from the meeting with no refund and/or refusal of future registration. They will also inform the participant’s employer, as appropriate.
Adapted from the Institute of Physics' Code of Conduct
