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Personal conduct agreement

Agreement
Version 01, updated May 9th, 2026

EAR is a collective

Ecosystem Action Research (EAR) is a community-run research collective. EAR is fiscally hosted by Raft Foundation which means Raft handles our financial administration and we operate under their organization. EAR does action research: We plan, act, learn, and repeat. We do this together, in public, in service of an ecosystem we believe in.

You do not need to be an expert in anything to participate in EAR. If you are here as a research participant, this document explains the norms that govern how we treat you and each other. This code of conduct applies to everyone in relationship with EAR. This includes contributors, volunteers, contractors, and research participants. This applies to all spaces where EAR work happens including but not limited to our Zulip, on bluesky, our blog, video calls, workshops, and any other venue where we gather under the EAR name.

As we are a project of the Raft Foundation we also inherit the Raft’s values. This document builds on that foundation and addresses what is specific to how EAR works. It does not replace the Raft Foundation values.

This is a living document. It will change as our community grows and as we learn.

Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to

The following behaviors are not acceptable in EAR spaces, regardless of intent:

  • Discrimination or demeaning conduct based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, neurodivergence, age, class, caste, religion or lack of religion, immigration or citizenship status, national origin, or language
  • Racist or otherwise racially demeaning language or conduct
  • Making threats or encouraging others to violence or harm, using words or imagery
  • Causing someone to fear for their safety such as through stalking, following, or intimidation
  • Nonconsensual or unwelcome physical contact or sexual attention
  • Homophobia, transphobia, or biphobia, including deadnaming, misgendering, or questioning the validity of someone’s identity
  • Publication of private communications without consent
  • Ableism, including dismissing access needs as inconvenient or excessive
  • Dismissing lived experience as insufficient evidence or as less valid than formal credentials
  • Taking credit for, misrepresenting, or using someone else’s work without attribution or consent
  • Retaliation for raising a concern or making a report under this code

This list is not exhaustive. The standard is whether a behavior creates harm, exclusion, or fear.

Expected behaviors include, but are definitely not limited to

EAR asks more than the absence of harm. We are working toward actively repairing prior harm, not just avoiding producing it.

Show up in relationship. When your capacity or commitments change, say so early. Silence is harder in collaboration than a hard conversation. We coordinate on trust and trust requires communication. The responsibility for making this norm safe and not penalizing people for stepping back, not placing coordination burden on those already carrying it most, sits with whoever holds coordination power, not with the person stepping back.

Actively share power. EAR contributors hold power over research participants. Long-tenured members hold power over newcomers. People with more technical fluency hold power over those without it. Name this when it shows up and make decisions to account for it.

Center people, not just perspectives. Actively make space for people whose voices are less centered by default. This applies to who we invite, how we facilitate, and in who holds leadership. Diverse perspectives are not enough if the people holding them are not present and empowered.

Treat lived experience as expertise. Someone’s direct experience of a system is evidence about that system.

Take responsibility when you cause harm. We will all make mistakes. The commitment is not to be perfect but to listen when someone tells you you caused harm, take it seriously, and repair what you can.

Pace yourself and protect others’ ability to do the same. This is volunteer work. Joy, rest, and rigorous care are not aspirational. They are how we sustain this over time. Do not treat overextension as dedication.

Keep internal information internal. Internal transparency is essential to how we work. Public transparency is powerful and must be handled with care. Privacy protects the people most at risk including research participants who have shared things in confidence and contributors whose personal situations are not public. When in doubt, ask before sharing.

Research participants

If you are participating in an EAR interview, workshop, or other research activity, additional protections apply to you.

Your participation must be:

  • Voluntary. You can decline to answer anything, or leave at any time, without penalty.
  • Informed. You will know what the research is for, who will see your contributions, and how they will be used before you agree to participate.
  • Specific. Your consent applies to the scope described to you. We will not use your contributions for other purposes without asking again.
  • Revertible. You can withdraw consent after the fact. If you do, we will remove your contributions from material under our control.

Reporting guidelines

If you experience or witness behavior that violates this code of conduct, reach out to: Christian Jacobs or Taurean Bryant in Zulip or by email.

Reports will be received with care and confidentiality.