Within this document the term ‘Member’ refers to any individual or organisation which may belong to any category of membership.
The obligations of membership
Members of the Society are expected to actively help the Society achieve its charitable and scientific objectives, namely:
- promoting the understanding, relevance and use of soil science and the dissemination of research findings
- building collaborative partnerships reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of soil science
- developing soil science, soil scientists and enhancing soil education
- promoting soil science as a professional discipline and supporting standards of practice
- ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Society and safeguarding our soil science for the future.
This can be achieved through their day-to-day professional activities, through involvement with or attendance at meetings of the Society or its regional groups, and ultimately through engagement in the management of the Society or its regional groups or playing a role in specific initiatives.
Members of the Society should help protect and enhance the good reputation of the Society.
Members of the Society should promote soil science as a worthwhile and valuable branch of scientific study and as a scientific career.
Professional conduct and practice
Members will at all times:
- uphold the dignity and reputation of the profession of soil science by helping to safeguard the world’s land resource and promoting the value of soil and its study to the general public
- discharge their professional responsibilities with integrity and due scientific and technical competence
- avoid actions that might bring the Society into disrepute or be inconsistent with or harmful to the objectives of the Society
- treat others with respect and encourage equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), including embedding EDI within their work
- maintain a high professional standard and an awareness of new developments in their particular fields of professional practice whether these be applied soil science, academic research, teaching, student supervision or the management of staff
- conform to the Society’s requirements for continuing professional development
- recognise and respect the professional status of fellow members of the society and of other professional institutes and learned societies
- not represent themselves as a spokesperson for the Society without the agreement of Council or of the President, and at all times act within the Society’s Social Media Policy
- minimise their impact on the environment including encourage the fair and sustainable use of resources
- ensure, where appropriate, that they carry adequate professional indemnity insurance.
Standards of conduct for all Society members
All Members of the Society shall adhere to the Society’s Byelaws, its Articles of Association and any code of conduct adopted by the Society. They will be truthful in their dealings with the Society and its members and not act in any way to damage the standing of the Society. They will maintain scientific and ethical standards, which meet the reasonable expectations of the public and other scientists. They will adhere to the Society’s policies including Ethics, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Social Media and Environmental.
Members who do not adhere to the Code of Conduct may be subject to a disciplinary procedure, as set out in the Society Bye-Laws, which could result in termination of membership.