Hundreds of people have signed an online petition pledging their commitment to "zero tolerance of sexual misconduct" in the sciences and to support victims who come forward, ScienceInsider reports.
Three human evolution researchers at Arizona State University, Tempe, drafted the petition, which comes on the heels of revelations of alleged sexual harassment across academia, including in astronomy, biology, and anthropology. While the petition was aimed at bioanthropologists and bioarchaeologists, the list of signatories has grown to include biologists, ecologists, and geoscientists, ScienceInsider says, noting that it has also drawn the signature of a real estate broker.
"It is an easy thing to sign the form, but the power of the collective commitment of hundreds of signers is undeniable," William Kimbel, petition's drafters, tells ScienceInsider.
The petition notes that "[t]ough new policies emplaced by universities and professional organizations are welcome, but they will not lead to the needed cultural change without the commensurate commitment of individuals to provide a safe, supportive environment for women and men to learn and work together productively."