TOS Ethics Committee

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About the Committee

The TOS Ethics Committee is responsible for investigating reported cases of alleged scientific misconduct by TOS members, attendees at TOS conferences, and other TOS-related activities. The Ethics Committee makes recommendations to the TOS Council and also works with Council on other matters relating to ethics.

The members of the TOS Ethics Committee are engaged and welcome questions and comments from TOS members. To reach committee members, please email them by clicking on their names in the list below. The TOS Council and Ethics Committee members look forward to working with membership to ensure that the TOS remains at the forefront of ethical behavior in all aspects of their activities.

TOS Policy on Professional Integrity, Ethics, and Conduct, and Guidelines on Implementation

On December 13, 2018, The Oceanography Society Council adopted a comprehensive Policy on Professional Integrity, Ethics, and Conduct, and Guidelines on Implementation. We encourage all TOS members to read the policy.

Committee Membership

After issuing an open call to the TOS membership for nominations, including self-nominations, the Council selected six committee members and asked former TOS Councillor Richard W. “Rick” Murray to serve as inaugural chair.

Rick Murray, Chair, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Emmanuel Boss, University of Maine
Xu Chen, Florida A&M University
Bethanie Edwards, University of California, Berkeley
Elva Escobar-Briones, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico
Melissa Taylor, Ulster University
Luanne Thompson, University of Washington

Principles for Professional Behavior

  • Excellence and honesty in all aspects of research
  • Personal accountability in the conduct of research and the dissemination of the results
  • Professional courtesy, equity, and fairness in working with others
  • Freedom to responsibly pursue science without interference, coercion, or discrimination
  • Unselfish cooperation in research
  • Good stewardship of research and data on behalf of others
  • Legal compliance in all aspects of research, including intellectual property
  • Humane approach in evaluating the implications of research on humans and animals

Committee Actions

The Ethics Committee has been active since its inception and has taken the following actions:

  • Recommended the creation of this TOS Ethics Committee web page
  • Committed to review the Professional Integrity, Ethics, Conduct, and Implementation Guidelines in fall 2019 and offer any suggested changes to the TOS Council. Members are encouraged to provide comments to the Ethics Committee, via the TOS Office ([email protected])
  • Recommended that the set of principles for professional behavior that governs all TOS members, staff, volunteers, contractors, authors, exhibitors, sponsors and other participants in TOS activities be prominently featured on the tos.org website, in Oceanography, and as a required check box on the TOS membership and renewal forms

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