This page lays out the principles which guide our activities as a group. This includes core principles, a code of conduct and a set of mutual expectations between group members. It is inspired by many excellent examples, including the Ocean Transport Group, the Mitrovice Group, and the UT Ice Dynamics Lab, but it is a work in progress. These are principles we aspire to, rather than goals we claim to have achieved.

Core Principles

1, Respect others 

This should go without saying. The first step to success is a pleasant, encouraging work environment, for you and for your colleagues. Listen, be supportive, be curious and be positive. 

2. Work hard, but work smart

One of the best parts of doing research is the freedom to set your own schedule. There are no set working hours or number of hours per week/month you are expected to work. When you’re excited about a project you might work intensely, at other times things might be slower. But this freedom also means time-management can be difficult. Learning to balance the different parts of research (thinking, coding, reading papers) and other demands on your time is part of growing as a scientist. Be thoughtful about your schedule, and make sure to give yourself enough time to do good research while also fulfilling your other responsibilities.

3. Take care of yourself

Your mental and physical health should always take priority. You are encouraged to keep a healthy sleep schedule, pursue hobbies (surfing is a popular hobby for many Scripps graduate students), and develop support networks among peers and colleagues. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to speak up if you are facing mental health challenges and, if needed, contact UC San Diego Counseling and Psychological Services.

4. Be mindful of your climate impact

We believe that as a climate science research group, we should take steps to reduce our climate impact – to practice what we preach. Each person is free to make their own choices in their private lives, but we strive to minimize the impact of group activities. For concrete examples, please see the section below.

Code of Conduct

The basics:

• Conduct yourself in a professional and respectful manner. As much as possible, try to be on time to meetings and diligent about meeting deadlines.

• We do not tolerate harassment in any form, and are dedicated to providing an open and welcoming work environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or political views.

• Be kind to other group members; if you see someone struggling, offer to help. If giving criticism, do so in a constructive manner. Always lead with positivity.

• Provide space for contributions from all group members. This means not talking over others, interrupting, or discarding the ideas of others. This also means keeping a check on your dialogue to make sure you are not talking more than others. 

• Conduct yourself in a manner consistent with these principles in all settings where you are a representative of the group and of SIO/UCSD (i.e., classrooms, conferences, other research groups’ meetings, etc.).

• Please report immediately to Nick any actions that you feel violate these guidelines. All communication will remain confidential, and I will discuss violations with individuals in private.  Note that I am a Mandatory Reporter, and thus am legally obligated to report to the University any communication with me that discusses violations of Title IX.
  

Good practice:

• Do not compare your contributions to that of others. Everyone has a unique set of skills, experiences, and challenges. Measure your progress against your own goals and expectations.

• Sharing of code, ideas, etc. is encouraged. There’s no point re-inventing the wheel, though any assistance or collaboration should be properly acknowledged and credited.

• Communicate clearly with other group members – ask questions, share your opinion, express your needs and concerns.

Expectations

There are no hard expectations in terms of productivity or time spent working. Instead we expect group members to show enthusiasm and passion for their work. These can be expressed in different ways, but common signs are: working hard in the “exciting parts” of a project, thoroughly reading relevant papers, putting love into figures, and being diligent in your work. Having said that, all group members are expected to do what is necessary to stay in good standing as students and employees of UCSD (e.g., complete mandatory trainings and other paperwork on time). Group members are also strongly encouraged to attend the various seminars, lunches, etc. at SIO (e.g., CASPO seminar, Climate Journal Club, etc.). Attending these should not feel like a chore, but an opportunity to learn and talk about new science.

In terms of funding, it is the PI’s job to raise support for students and postdocs. Students are guaranteed funding for five years at SIO (the department will provide bridge support if needed), while postdocs are normally hired on contracts with set funding terms. Some group members may prefer to focus solely on research, but Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are often eager to learn about grant writing, and all group members are welcome to be involved in this process. 

Carbon Impact

Many parts of climate science research are carbon-intensive, from the energy it takes to run climate model simulations to traveling to conferences and workshops. Unfortunately, a lot of these emissions are unavoidable, or at least difficult to eliminate in practice. Science is a social activity, and ECRs need to go to conferences and workshops to advertise their work and grow their network. With that said, as a group we are mindful of our carbon impact and try to take small steps to reduce our emissions. 

This is a work in progress, and we welcome any suggestions for improvement. So far our concrete steps are:

1. All food at group activities is vegetarian (with the goal of going vegan).

2. We favor long trips over multiple short trips. For example, it is better to make a two week-long visit to the East Coast, going to multiple conferences/workshops/departments, than taking several round-trip flights for shorter visits.

Group members are also encouraged to read this post on the most effective way of donating to combat climate change.