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Code of Conduct

Summary

All Archaeology Data Service and Heritage Science Data Service training events are subject to the following Code of Conduct.

We are committed to creating a friendly, respectful, and harassment-free experience for learning. We encourage all participants — instructors and learners alike — to show respect and courtesy to others at all times.

Anyone found to be acting in violation of this Code of Conduct may be asked to leave the session and may be excluded from future training activities.

To report an incident during an online session, contact your instructor in person, via Zoom Direct Message or email.

For complaints or follow-up concerns, please contact the ADS Helpdesk at help@archaeologydataservice.ac.uk.

1. Introduction

This Code of Conduct applies to all participants in training activities delivered by the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) and the Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS), including in-person workshops, online sessions, and any associated communication channels such as email, Zoom, or collaborative platforms used during training.

Everyone involved — whether as a learner or instructor — is expected to follow this Code of Conduct. Our goal is to create a positive learning environment where people feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and develop new skills.

2. Expected Behaviour

All participants are expected to:

  • Be welcoming and inclusive — use language that is respectful and accessible to people of all backgrounds and experience levels.
  • Be considerate — remember that others may have different perspectives, prior knowledge, and ways of learning.
  • Be respectful — disagreement is fine; dismissiveness or personal criticism is not.
  • Accept feedback graciously — constructive feedback is part of learning; offer and receive it in good faith.
  • Support a collaborative atmosphere — focus on what is best for everyone's learning, not just your own.

3. Unacceptable Behaviour

The following behaviours will not be tolerated in any training session or associated communication:

  • Discriminatory language or behaviour relating to gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, age, socio-economic background, or experience level.
  • Intimidation, harassment, or threatening conduct — whether verbal, written, or physical.
  • Deliberate disruption of sessions or discussions.
  • Unwelcome personal attention or non-consensual physical contact (in-person sessions).
  • Insults, put-downs, or demeaning remarks.
  • Sharing another participant's personal information or contributions outside the session without their consent.

4. Consequences

Participants asked to stop unacceptable behaviour are expected to do so immediately.

Depending on the severity of the situation, the following actions may be taken:

  • A private warning from the session instructor
  • Removal from the current session
  • Exclusion from future training activities

All reports will be treated seriously and handled with discretion.

5. Reporting an Incident

If you experience or witness behaviour that violates this Code of Conduct, we ask that you report it to your instructor as soon as possible. We will address all reports as a matter of priority. All reports will be treated seriously and handled with discretion.

During an in-person session: Contact your instructor at any point during the session, including breaks.

During an online session: Contact your instructor directly via Zoom Direct Message or email.

After a session, or if you are not comfortable reporting to the instructor: Contact the ADS Helpdesk at help@archaeologydataservice.ac.uk.

All reports will be kept confidential to the extent possible while allowing us to address the situation appropriately.

6. Scope

This Code of Conduct applies to:

  • All in-person and online (including Zoom) training sessions delivered by ADS and HSDS
  • Any communication directly related to those sessions (e.g. shared documents, email correspondence, chat messages)

It applies for the duration of training activities and in any follow-up communication arising from them.

Acknowledgments

This Code of Conduct is adapted from The Carpentries Code of Conduct, which is itself based on frameworks developed by the Django Project, the Ada Initiative, and PyCon. It is reviewed periodically and updated as needed.

Last reviewed: May 2026