Science Journalism Forum Privacy Policy

Science Journalism Forum (SJF) is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. Our Privacy Policy is designed to help you understand how we collect, use and safeguard the information you provide to us and to assist you in making informed decisions when using our Service.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Site” refers to the SJF’s website, which can be accessed at www.sciencejf.com. “Service” refers to the SJF’s services accessed via the Site, in which users can register to attend or speak at the science journalism forum. The terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to SJF. “You” refers to you as a user of our Site or Service. By accessing our Site or our Service, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and consent to our collection, storage, use and disclosure of your Personal Information as described in this Privacy Policy.

I. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect two types of information:

1. Personal Information
   This includes information that can be used to identify you, such as your email address, name, affiliation, and contact information. We collect this information when you register for an account or use certain features of the Service.
2. Non-Personal Information
   This includes information that cannot be used to identify you personally, such as browsing data, device information, and general demographic information. We collect this information automatically through cookies and similar technologies.

• Cookies and Your Choices
  Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. We use cookies to collect non-personal information, including:
  – The website you came from (referring URL)
  – Your browser type
  – The device you used to access the Service (e.g., computer, phone, tablet)
  – The date and time of your access
  – Other non-identifying information

We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain on your computer until you delete them). You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit your use of certain features of the Service.

• Children’s Privacy
  The Site and the Service are not directed to anyone under the age of 13. The Site does not knowingly collect information from anyone under the age of 13 or allow anyone under the age of 13 to sign up for the Service. If we learn that we have gathered personal information from anyone under the age of 13 without the consent of a parent or guardian, we will delete that information as soon as possible. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us at info@scicommx.com.

II. HOW WE USE AND SHARE INFORMATION

• Personal Information:
  Except as otherwise stated in this Privacy Policy, we will not sell, trade, or rent your Personal Information to third parties for marketing purposes without your consent. However, we may share your Personal Information in the following situations:

1. With sponsors or partner organizations that fund our fellowship programs: We may share your information with these organizations solely for the purpose of administering the fellowship program and evaluating applications.
2. With vendors who perform services for us: We may share your information with vendors who help us operate the Service, such as email providers. These vendors will only use your information as instructed by us and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
3. For legal reasons: We may disclose your information if we believe it is reasonably necessary to comply with the law, enforce our Terms of Service, protect our rights and safety, or protect the public.

• Non-Personal Information:
  We use Non-Personal Information to improve the Service and personalize your experience. We may also aggregate this information to analyze trends and usage patterns.We reserve the right to use and disclose Non-Personal and Personal Information to our partners, advertisers, and other third parties at our discretion. Additionally, SJF may share your information in connection with a merger, sale of assets, or financing or acquisition of our business.

III. HOW WE PROTECT INFORMATION

We implement security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access. Your account is protected by your account password, and we urge you to take steps to keep your personal information safe by not disclosing your password and by logging out of your account after each use. 

We further protect your information from potential security breaches by implementing certain technological security measures including encryption, firewalls and secure socket layer technology. However, these measures do not guarantee that your information will not be accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed by a breach of such firewalls and secure server software. By using our Service, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to assume these risks.

IV. YOUR RIGHTS 

You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by following the unsubscribe instructions in any promotional email. You can also contact us at info@scicommx.com to opt-out. Please note that we may still send you administrative emails, such as updates to our Privacy Policy.

V. LINKS

As part of the Service, we may provide links to other websites or applications. However, we are not responsible for the privacy practices employed by those websites or the information or content they contain. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by us through the Site and the Service. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of other websites before using them.

VI. CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY

SJF reserves the right to change the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at any time. We will notify you of significant changes to our Privacy Policy by sending a notice to the primary email address specified in your account or by placing a prominent notice on our site. Significant changes will go into effect 30 days following such notification. Non-material changes or clarifications will take effect immediately. You should periodically check the Site for updates.

VII. Terms and Conditions

• Acceptable Use
  You agree to use the Site and Service for lawful purposes only. You will not:
  – Post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing racially or ethnically offensive material.
  – Interfere with the normal operation of the Site or Service.
  – Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
• User Content
  SJF encourages you to share your valuable insights and ideas. When you post content to the Site or Service (“User Content”), you retain all ownership rights to that content. However, to facilitate the display, distribution, and promotion of your User Content within the SJF platform, you grant SJF a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:
  – Use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and translate your User Content.
  – Make your User Content available to other users of the Site and Service.

This license allows SJF to operate the platform effectively and showcase your contributions to a wider audience. It enables us to display your content, share it with other users who might find it valuable, and potentially utilize it for promotional purposes, highlighting exceptional contributions within the SJF community.

• Intellectual Property
  The Site and Service contain intellectual property owned by SJF or its licensors, including trademarks, copyrights, and patents. You may not use any of this intellectual property without SJF’s prior written consent.
• Preventing Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying
  SJF is committed to building a safe and inclusive environment for all users. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or bullying of any kind. If you experience or witness any of these behaviours on the Site or Service, please report it to us immediately at info@scicommx.com.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  SJF values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our activities. We create a welcoming and inclusive community for users of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for participation and having a respectful dialogue on science journalism.

VIII. CONTACT US

If you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy or our Terms, please get in touch with us at info@scicommx.com.

This Privacy Policy was last updated on June 25th, 2024.