CFNS Code of Conduct

(Adapted from the Code of Conduct of the National Academy of Sciences and from the INT)

CFNS faculty, scientific personnel, and visitors shall carry out their scientific research with integrity and the highest standards, and shall not commit scientific misconduct, defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism. Scientific error or incorrect interpretation of research data that may occur as part of the scientific process does not constitute scientific misconduct.

CFNS faculty, scientific personnel and visitors shall avoid those detrimental research practices that are clear violations of the fundamental tenets of research. They should be fair and objective peer reviewers, maintain confidentiality when requested, promptly move to correct the literature when errors in their own work are detected, include all deserving authors on publications, and give appropriate credit to prior work in citations.

CFNS faculty, scientific personnel and visitors shall treat all individuals in the scientific enterprise collegially and with respect, including supervisors, colleagues, students and other early-career colleagues, technical and clerical staff, and interested members of the public. They must refrain from all forms of discrimination ¹ , harassment ² , and bullying ³ in their professional encounters, as these behaviors have adverse impacts on the careers of scientists and the proper conduct of science.

CFNS faculty, scientific personnel and visitors shall not represent any position as being that of the Center unless it has the approval of the Director.

CFNS faculty, scientific personnel and visitors are expected to adhere to their employers’ codes of conduct or ethics.

1. Discrimination is defined as prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups of people based on their race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.
2. Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Other types of harassment include any verbal or physical conduct directed at individuals or groups of people because of their race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
3. Bullying is unwelcome, aggressive behavior involving the use of influence, threat, intimidation, or coercion to dominate others in the professional environment.