1. Introduction
1.1. The British Pharmacological Society (“Society”) is a charity with a mission to promote and advance the whole spectrum of pharmacology. We are a friendly and collaborative global community.
1.2. Admission to membership of the Society as a charitable organisation carries with it certain privileges, which are detailed on our website.
1.3. This Code is applicable to all Members. Membership must be conducted in accordance with the Society’s governing documents, namely its Articles of Association and Rules, this Code of Conduct and any policies and procedures that the Society shall adopt from time to time and as notified to Members. These documents can be found on the website.
2. Conduct and expected behaviours
2.1. Members shall:
- uphold and promote the Society's charitable purposes and refrain from conduct that risks damaging or undermining those purposes or the Society's reputation;
- work in partnership, considerately and respectfully, with the Society's community of members, staff and volunteers, and not engage in any form of bullying, harassment or abuse;
- uphold the Society’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and not act in a way that discriminates against any individual or group;
- conduct their professional activities in the study or practice of pharmacology with integrity, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards;
- recognise that membership carries with it personal and non-transferable benefits, and shall not allow non-members unauthorised access to any data or intellectual property the Society makes available to Members only, including, but not limited to, online versions of any of the Society's publications.
3. Conflicts of interest
3.1. Members shall act in the best interests of the Society, and not allow any personal interest, loyalty or duty to conflict with the Society's interests when exercising their responsibilities as Members, including but not limited to attending and voting in general meetings or representing the Society in an official capacity with the Society's authority.
3.2. Where a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest does arise, Members should declare this to Council via the Membership Manager as soon as possible, and ensure that the conflict is managed appropriately, as determined by Council.
3.3. Members should not gain materially or financially from the assets of the Society for any role they may hold within the Society unless permitted under the Articles of Association.
4. External representation
4.1. Members are encouraged to actively participate in the Society’s activities and governance. However, Members should note that they are not entitled to represent or act on behalf of the Society, or to claim that they are representing the Society or having authority to act on behalf of the Society, unless specifically authorised to do so.
4.2. This means that Society Members should not for example:
without express authority from the Society office.
4.3. A visible membership helps the Society achieve its aims, so Members are encouraged to share their association with the Society in person and on social media. However, in doing so, Members should be mindful of this Code of Conduct in its entirety.
5. Confidentiality
5.1. From time to time the Society may provide Members with information that is confidential to the Society. Members are required to treat all information regarding the Society's finances, strategy, employees and intellectual property as confidential, whether or not it is specifically described as confidential by the Society, unless it is already in the public domain or required to be disclosed by law or court order.
5.2. If Members provide information to the Society which should be regarded as confidential, it should be clearly marked as such. The Society will maintain confidentiality in any information clearly notified to it as confidential, unless it is required to disclose it by law or court order.