Code of Conduct

Effective Date: Spring 2026

Administered by: Biodesign Challenge Program Staff

Applies to: All in-person Biodesign Challenge gatherings, summits, exhibitions, critiques, workshops, and associated events.

1. Preamble

Biodesign Challenge is an international education program and competition that encourages student creativity at the intersection of biotechnology, art, and design. Programming, like the annual BDC Summit, Biodesign Sprint, and Biodesign Symposium, are central to this mission, providing participants with opportunities for rigorous critique, cross-disciplinary exchange, and professional development.

The Code of Conduct (“Code”) establishes the standards of behavior expected of all individuals who participate in Biodesign Challenge programming and events. It reflects Biodesign Challenge’s commitment to maintaining environments that are safe, equitable, inclusive, and conducive to meaningful learning. These standards are grounded in broadly recognized best practices in educational program administration, conference governance, and professional ethics.

Participation in any Biodesign Challenge programming constitutes acceptance of this Code in full.

2. Scope of Application

2.1 Covered Individuals

This Code applies to all individuals participating in Biodesign Challenge programming, including but not limited to:

  • Student participants and student teams

  • Expert consultant mentors

  • Instructors and institutional representatives

  • Biodesign Challenge staff and volunteers

  • Invited speakers, judges, and guests

  • Venue staff interacting with program participants in event contexts

2.2 Covered Settings

This Code applies to all spaces and contexts associated with official Biodesign Challenge programming, including:

  • Conference halls, auditoriums, classrooms, and seminar spaces

  • Exhibition, critique, and portfolio review settings

  • Workshop, laboratory, and makers spaces

  • Officially organized social or networking functions

  • Shared transportation arranged by the program

  • Digital channels used in direct support of programming

Conduct occurring outside official programming—including at informal gatherings, in private communications, or on personal social media—may be subject to review if it is determined to have materially affected the safety, well-being, or experience of another participant.

3. Core Standards of Conduct

All participants are expected to uphold the following standards throughout their participation in Biodesign Challenge programming:

3.1 Respect and Professionalism

Participants shall:

  • Engage with all individuals in a manner that reflects dignity, courtesy, and professional respect

  • Acknowledge and honor the diversity of disciplinary background, cultural perspectives, lived experiences, and personal identities represented within the Biodesign Challenge community

  • Deliver and receive critique in a spirit of constructive inquiry, focusing commentary on work and ideas rather than individuals

  • Use accurate and respectful language, including correct use of individuals’ stated names and pronouns

3.2 Inclusivity and Non-Discrimination

Biodesign Challenge is committed to equitable participation regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, socioeconomic background, educational background, immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law or institutional policy.

Participants shall not engage in exclusionary conduct, including behavior that marginalizes or demeans on the basis of the characteristics listed above or any other protected status.

3.3 Constructive Engagement

Participants are expected to contribute to programming in good faith. This includes:

  • Engaging attentively and respectfully during presentations, panels, critiques, and discussions

  • Refraining from conduct that disrupts or detracts from the experience of other participants

  • Raising concerns or disagreements through appropriate and respectful channels rather than through disruptive or hostile behavior

3.4 Compliance with Venue and Safety Policies

Participants shall:

  • Adhere to all applicable venue rules, posted safety notices and access restrictions

  • Display event credential visibility where required by event organizers or venue policy

  • Follow all biosafety protocols in laboratory, making, or wet lab spaces, including the use of required personal protective equipment

  • Comply with any public health measures in effect at the time of the event

4. Prohibited Conduct

The following categories of conduct are expressly prohibited at all Biodesign Challenge activities. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive.

4.1 Harassment

Harassment is defined as any unwelcome conduct—verbal, physical, visual, written, or electronic—directed at an individual or group that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive, or abusive environment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbal abuse, derogatory comments, slurs, or sustained hostile critique targeting an individual’s identity

  • Unwelcome sexual attention, advances, commentary, or innuendo

  • Deliberate and repeated misuse of an individual’s stated names or pronouns

  • Display of sexually explicit, derogatory, or otherwise offensive imagery or materials

  • Stalking, following, or monitoring an individual without their consent

4.2 Discrimination

Differential treatment of any participant that disadvantages them on the basis of a protected characteristic, including in the context of critique, feedback, or access to program resources, is prohibited.

4.3 Physical Conduct

  • Any form of unsolicited or unwanted physical contact is prohibited

  • Threatening gestures, physical intimidation, or conduct that causes another person to fear for their physical safety is prohibited

  • Possession of weapons, dangerous implements, or controlled substances on event premises is prohibited

4.4 Boundary Violations

Consistent with Biodesign Challenge’s educational mission and its obligations to student participants:

  • Initiating private, unsupervised interactions with students outside of scheduled, instructor-facilitated program activities is prohibited

  • Soliciting personal contact information from student participants for purposes not aligned with Biodesign Challenge programming or project development is prohibited 

  • Any conduct that could reasonably be construed as exploitative, coercive, or manipulative in the context of a mentor-student or instructor-student relationship is prohibited

4.5 Unauthorized Solicitation and Recruitment

Directly recruiting, soliciting, or pressuring students for employment, commercial partnerships, consulting arrangements, internships, or investment opportunities in connection with the mentor’s personal or organizational interests is prohibited during the program period.

Distributing promotional, commercial, or organizational materials at event venues without prior written approval from Biodesign Challenge staff is prohibited.

Mentors and other adult participants wishing to share professionally relevant opportunities with students must do so through the relevant course instructor(s) or Biodesign Challenge program staff.

4.6 Unauthorized Recording and Intellectual Property Violations

Photographing, filming, recording, or otherwise capturing student project work, presentations, or personal images without the expressed permission of the individuals involved and, where applicable, Biodesign Challenge staff, is prohibited.

Reproducing, distributing, or disclosing student project concepts, materials, or confidential information shared in a mentorship or critique context without written permission is prohibited.

4.7 Substance-Related Conduct

Attending or participating in programming while visually impaired by alcohol or other substances is prohibited

Where alcohol is available at officially sanctioned event functions, consumption is subject to the following:

  • Participants must meet legal drinking age in the applicable jurisdiction

  • Consumption is permitted only in designated areas during designated times

  • Visible intoxication or alcohol-related misconduct will be treated as a violation of this Code

4.8 Retaliation

Retaliation against any individual who, in good faith, reports a concern, makes a complaint, or participates in an investigation under this Code is strictly prohibited and will itself be treated as a serious violation.

5. Protections for Minor Participants

Biodesign Challenge serves a student population that may include individuals under the age of 18. The protection of minor participants is a primary obligation of the program. All adult participants—including mentors, instructors, judges, speakers, and guests—shall:

  • Conduct all interactions with minors within group settings or instructor-facilitated contexts; one-on-one, unsupervised interactions with minors are not permitted under any circumstances

  • Refrain from initiating any private communication with a minor participant outside of scheduled, program-sanctioned activities

  • Avoid any conduct that could be perceived as grooming, exploitation, coercion, or inappropriate boundary-setting with a minor

  • Report immediately to Biodesign Challenge staff any situation, communication, or behavior–whether their own concern or one they have observed–that may raise a safety or safeguarding issue involving a minor

These provisions apply in all settings covered by this Code and are not subject to exception or waiver.

6. Communication Standards at In-Person Events

To preserve appropriate educational boundaries and ensure clear lines of accountability, the following communication standards apply during in-person gatherings:

  • Mentors are expected to direct substantive feedback, follow-up, and professional exchanges outside the judging sessions through the relevant course instructor or Biodesign Challenge staff designee rather than through independent channels with student participants

  • Mentors and other adult participants should not solicit personal contact details from students (including personal phone numbers, personal email addresses, or social media handles) during the event for purposes unrelated to the program

7. Photography, Filming, and Media Policy

7.1 Official Documentation

Biodesign Challenge and its authorized representatives may photograph, film, and record in-person events for documentation, communications, and educational purposes. By attending, participants acknowledge that they may appear in such materials. Participants who wish to be excluded from official photography or recording should notify Biodesign Challenge staff prior to event registration.

7.2 Participant Recording

Individual participants may not photograph, film, or record:

  • Other attendees without their verbal or written consent

  • Student project work, exhibition materials, or presentations without the consent of the student team(s) and/or Biodesign Challenge staff

  • Programming sessions, panels, or critiques without prior approval from event organizers

Biodesign Challenge reserves the right to prohibit recording devices in specific sessions as appropriate.

8. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality

Student teams retain full ownership of their project ideas, creative work, and associated materials unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. All participants attending sessions in which student work is discussed or presented agree to:

  • Treat student project information disclosed in mentorship, critique, or exhibition contexts as confidential unless explicitly designated otherwise by the student team

  • Refrain from reproducing, sharing, or otherwise using student project materials or concepts without the expressed written consent of the relevant student team and instructor(s)

  • Recognize that his obligation of confidentiality continues beyond the conclusion of the event

9. Incident Reporting Procedures

Biodesign Challenge is committed to addressing concerns promptly, impartially, and with appropriate sensitivity. Participants are encouraged to report conduct that appears to violate this Code, regardless of whether they are the directly affected individual.

9.1 How to Report

Reports may be submitted through the following channels:

  • In person: Approach any Biodesign Challenge staff member, identifiable by their event credentials or name badge, and request a private conversation

  • By email: Contact the designated conduct point of contact, the Executive Director, to report perceived Code violations

9.2 Confidentiality

Biodesign Challenge will handle all reports with discretion. Information will be shared only with those who have a legitimate need to know in order to address the reported concern. Biodesign Challenge cannot guarantee complete confidentiality in all circumstances, particularly where the safety of a minor or other individual is at risk.

9.3 Good Faith Reporting

This Code is not intended to discourage good-faith reports made on the basis of genuine concern. Reports submitted in bad faith—that is, knowingly false or malicious—may themselves be subject to review under this code.

10. Response and Enforcement

10.1 Authority

Biodesign Challenge program staff hold primary authority for the interpretation and enforcement of this Code. Staff may consult with institutional partners, legal counsel, or other relevant parties as appropriate.

10.2 Response Framework

Responses to reported or observed violations will be determined based on the nature, severity, and context of the conduct, as well as any prior history of concern. Possible responses include, but are not limited to:

Tier | Nature of the Violation | Possible Response

Tier 1 | Minor, first-time, or unintentional violation | Private conversation and verbal or written warning

Tier 2 | Repeated, deliberate, or moderately serious violation | Formal written warning; removal from specific sessions or spaces

Tier 3 | Serious violation involving harassment, discrimination, or significant boundary violations | Immediate removal from the event; notification of home institution or relevant organizational representatives

Tier 4 | Threat to physical safety, conduct involving a minor, or criminal activity | Immediate removal; notification of law enforcement and relevant authorities as required

Biodesign Challenge staff retain sole discretion to determine the appropriate tier and response in a given situation.

10.3 Appeals

Individuals who have been formally sanctioned under this Code may submit a written appeal to Biodesign Challenge program leadership within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving notice of the decision. Appeals must identify specific grounds for reconsideration. The decision of program leadership on appeal is final.

11. Acknowledgement of This Code

By registering for or attending a Biodesign Challenge program, all participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct in its entirety. Participants who have not reviewed this Code prior to arrival are expected to familiarize themselves with its contents upon receipt.

Biodesign Challenge reserves the right to amend this Code at any time. Material amendments will be communicated to registered participants in advance of the relevant program where feasible.

12. Contact Information

Designated conduct contacts and event-specific points of contact will be identified in official event communication and distributed to participants prior to Biodesign Challenge programming.

This Code of Conduct is reviewed and updated on a regular basis in accordance with evolving best practices in educational program administration and conference governance. It reflects Biodesign Challenge’s ongoing commitment to maintaining environments that support the safety, dignity, and full participation of every member of its community.

Document version: Spring 2026

Next scheduled review: Prior to Spring 2027 Program Cycle