GEOETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE GEOSCIENCES: BE AWARE, BE PREPARED, BE READY TO ACT (Invited Presentation)

Professionalism refers to the behaviors and attitudes of geoscientists as they interact with colleagues in the work environment and with the public. The foundations of professionalism can be found in the concepts of power, trust, respect, responsibility, fairness and justice. Social power structures (e.g., professor/student, contractor/client, editor/author) are prevalent in work settings, and anytime there is asymmetrical or hierarchical distribution of power there is the potential for ethical violations. When interpersonal conflicts arise in professional settings the impacts are often destructive and irreversible, will be felt throughout the entire work environment, and can often lead to legal ramifications. Everyone has the right to a safe, supportive, inclusive and productive work environment in the lab, field, office, and in other professional venues. There is a continuum of unprofessional practices that range from being merely uncivil to illegal. Three major types of unprofessional conduct that may result in legal action are: 1) Harassment, including sexual harassment/assault and bullying in the form of coercive or demeaning actions, 2) Discrimination based on personal attributes of any person, and 3) Breach of Trust, regarding issues of confidentiality, privacy, contractual responsibilities, or disregarding accepted professional standards of practice. Institutions and companies cannot afford the liability of the consequences of these unprofessional behaviors; as a profession, we can't afford to lose human resources because of hostile work environments. So it's fair to ask, "What is being done in your department, what can you do personally, to make your work environment inclusive and welcoming to ALL people? " The first step is awareness of actions and speech that negatively impact people (e.g., microaggressions, implicit bias) to avoid disruptive situations in the first place. Be proactive and start the conversation about these issues in department meetings. Know policies and procedures ahead of time, and be aware that institutional, criminal and civil policies may not be well aligned. And, be prepared to act; silence is not an option and there are no neutral bystanders. More information on professionalism can be found at: https://serc.carleton.edu/geoethics/professionalism.html