Email from LSST:UK Board Chair, Tim Naylor, dated 31st January 2017]
Dear All,
further to my request in December last year I am pleased to announce that we have two interim “Ombudspersons” with whom members of the consortium can discuss any aspect of the behaviour of a consortium member that they think may be inappropriate. They are
Albert Zijlstra aDOTzijlstraATmanchesterDOTacDOTuk
Kathy Romer romerATsussexDOTacDOTuk
Let me emphasise that you can also approach any post-holder within the consortium if problems occur, but that it is sometimes useful to have senior astronomers outside the “management structure” in the role Albert and Kathy have kindly agreed to take.
As you will recall we are currently in the process of creating a code of conduct, and so anyone who has a concern may like to consult the Dark Energy Science Collaboration’s code of conduct (http://www.lsst-desc.org/sites/default/files/DESCProfessionalConductPolicies_v1_1.pdf) for guidance ahead of our own code being complete.
Best Wishes,
TimTthe LSST Project and Science Collaborations have worked hard to ensure that LSST activities are conducted in an inclusive manner that respects the diversity within the LSST community. Our Consortium Board is very keen that we should do the same, so we are currently developing a code of professional conduct for LSST:UK. The current draft is based heavily on that of the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, but it may be amended, better to reflect our needs and the UK environment. In due course, agreement to adhere to that code will be part of the process for applying of PI status, and that status may be revoked for violations of the code. It is important, therefore, that we get this right, but, equally, we want to start to enjoy the benefits of having such a code sooner, rather than later, so we are rolling it out in stages.
That started in January, when Tim Naylor emailed the lusc-announce list (see below) to note that Kathy Romer (romerATsussexDOTacDOTuk) and Albert Zijlstra (aDOTzijlstraATmanchesterDOTacDOTuk) had agreed to serve as our first Ombudspersons, with whom consortium members could discuss any aspect of behaviour by another consortium member that they consider to be inappropriate.
The second stage is trialling of the code of conduct for meetings. Central to that is the appointment of two Points of Contact for each meeting, who are available for consultation should issues arise during the meeting. Taking on the Meeting Point of Contact role is a significant commitment and we do not want it to impact unnecessarily on the scientific benefit that the MPoCs obtain from attending the meeting, so, while they are committed to handling any problems that might arise during the meeting, they should not be questioned about the Code of Conduct more generally, since they are aiding its implementation, rather than being responsible for its definition. Any general questions about the Code of Conduct should be addressed o the meeting organisers or to any members of the Executive Group present during the meeting.
Since this is a draft code, that has not yet been approved by the Consortium Board, we cannot require you to adhere to it during LSST:UK meetings, but we request that you do, so that we gain experience of operating meetings under the conditions specified by the code. The meeting organiser will give the names and contact details of the MPoCs by email in advance of each meeting and at the start of each meeting, and it will be assumed that you have agreed to be bound by the code if do not tell the meeting organiser by that point.
Once a version of the code has been approved by the Consortium Board, an announcement to that effect will be made on the lusc-announce email list and the information on this page will be amended, accordingly.