Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Policy

The Current Research in Speculative Fiction Conference is dedicated to promoting diverse and underrepresented voices in speculative fiction academia and discourse. As a conference aimed at ECRs and PGRs we aim to provide an environment in which our participants feel both safe and supported.

As a conference at the University of Liverpool and organised by University of Liverpool PGRs, we follow the University’s EDI policy.

The University is committed to creating an inclusive learning and working environment with respect to the Protected Characteristics of:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender Reassignment
• Marriage & Civil Partnership
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Race
• Religion or Belief (including Non-belief)
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation

You can find further information about the University’s EDI policy, and reporting resources, here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/about/equality-diversity-inclusion/

We also have a firm anti-harassment policy as part of our Conference Code of Conduct, which can be read below.

Conference Code of Conduct

All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at our conference are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.

Our conference is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices.

We require speakers making presentations on difficult or upsetting subject matter to specify content warnings when responding to their acceptance to the conference. This allows our chairs to adequately prepare other conference attendees before engaging with potentially triggering or upsetting content, while still engaging in important and difficult discussions.

We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organisers.

Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact campus security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.

We expect participants to follow these rules at conference venues and conference-related social events.