NERSC Code of Conduct

NERSC Code of Conduct

We recognize the right we all share to work in an environment characterized by respect, fairness, and inclusion. As community members of NERSC, we agree to incorporate the following Berkeley Lab Stewardship Values into our decisions and behaviors to continue fostering a culture where everyone feels safe and welcome to participate.

• Team Science: The scientific enterprise requires the participation of many people with a broad spectrum of expertise. The unique perspective of each member adds to the group’s overall success. Therefore, we treat everyone as valued contributors, no matter their role, expertise, seniority, or other professional characteristics. We put aside any scientific rivalries and treat each other as collaborators within the context of the NERSC community.

• Service: NERSC’s mission is fundamentally one of service. We advance scientific discovery for the greater good. Likewise, we align our individual actions with generosity and service. We take opportunities to help others. We teach others to advance the shared knowledge and experience of the community. We volunteer our time to leave our community better than we found it.

• Trust: Our community is founded on trust; we must be able to trust each other in order to feel safe. We foster an environment of psychological safety. We behave ethically, in alignment with the UC Standards of Ethical Conduct. We speak to one another honestly and respectfully.

• Innovation: We recognize that innovative ideas can come from anywhere and strive to make a safe environment that welcomes constructive input from everyone. We commit to periodically reevaluating our practices and endeavor to come up with new ways that we can work together to strengthen our community.

• Respect: We respect and value each other inherently as human beings. We take responsibility for our workplace, including the well-being, safety, and inclusion of those engaged in our NERSC community. We do not undermine, bully, or mistreat other community members, and we speak out against those who do. We do not discriminate against others in the community based on any protected characteristics (see Section III-A) or based on other non-work-related characteristics.

Community members are encouraged to speak out in a professional manner to encourage conduct aligned with these values. Participants who are asked to change their unprofessional behavior are expected to comply immediately.

When someone exhibits behaviors that do not align with these values within the context of the NERSC community, you are encouraged to report the activity (using the links below), and appropriate action will be taken. Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to, inappropriate physical contact, unwanted sexual misconduct, intimidation, stalking, harassment, photography or recording of an individual without consent, sustained disruption of talks or other events, or other problematic conduct.

NERSC retains the right to take any reasonable action to maintain a welcoming environment for all. Actions for noncompliance or continued misbehavior may include formal warnings and even dismissal from the activity or the community.

Reporting Misconduct

If someone violates these community values, please report it as soon as possible. All reports are taken seriously. We will work to eliminate inappropriate conduct, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.

You can make a report either anonymously or by identifying the reporter. Berkeley Lab policies on reporting such incidents can be accessed on the reporting options page. Additionally, links to reporting resources can be found at Berkeley Lab’s FAIR website and below.

Anonymous Report

These reporting forms offer an anonymous option:

• UC Incident Reporting Form for Harassment and Discrimination

• University of California Whistleblower Hotline

We cannot follow up on an anonymous report with you directly, but we will respond to reports immediately and take whatever action is necessary to prevent a recurrence.

Personal Report

You can also make a personal report that includes your identity. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent permissible but cannot be guaranteed. If you wish to formalize your concern directly by providing facts in your possession for initial assessment, you may make a personal report in any of the following ways:

1. UC Incident Reporting Form for Harassment and Discrimination

2. Email Berkeley Lab’s FAIR Office, FAIR@lbl.gov

3. Contact the Berkeley Lab Computing Sciences HR office, led by Bill Cannan (NERSC’s senior HR Division partner) via email at cshrteam@lbl.gov, or telephone at +1 (510) 486-6313.
4. University of California Whistleblower Hotline