ACS - Ethics Committee (ACS521)
2024 Annual Report
2024 Annual Report of the ACS Ethics Committee
The purpose of the Ethics Committee is to guide the Societies’ efforts to foster a culture of ethics, appropriate conduct, and accountability within the Societies.
Activities. This year was the initial year for the Committee; the first monthly meeting was held in April 2024.
After developing a more nuanced understanding of purpose and establishing a draft approach, the Committee collected example materials from other scientific societies that have previously established ethics committees; these included examples provided by the Societies Consortium (Societies Consortium to end harassment in STEMM).
The Ethics Committee also collated relevant ethics material from across the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. When appropriate, these will be linked in documents developed by the Ethics Committee, such as the Code of Conduct.
The Committee developed an updated Statement of Ethics to be used across the Societies, which would be reviewed and acknowledged when folks joined or renewed membership in the Societies.
The Ethics Committee has been drafting a Code of Conduct, which builds on the Statement of Ethics, but provides a detailed set of aspirational and mandatory guidelines for Society members to follow. The Committee expects the Code to be finalized in 2025.
The Committee developed an article introducing the Committee and describing the Statement of Ethics. This article is expected to appear in an early 2025 issue of CSA News.
Accomplishments. The final Statement of Ethics was approved by the Boards of ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. In the future, at the time of joining or renewing membership in the Societies, the Statement will be required to be reviewed and acknowledged.
Items Requiring Board Attention:
Members of the Committee:
Susan Chapman (Member, Ex Officio)
Prepared By:
Tarpley, Lee