INFORMS Joins New Professional Society Consortium to Fight Sexual Harassment in STEMM

INFORMS announced today that it has joined the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine). The mission of the Societies Consortium is to advance professional and ethical conduct, climate and culture across STEMM fields. 

The Societies Consortium, which was launched in early 2019, by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and American Geophysical Union (AGU), has a membership of over 50 professional societies, reflecting a shared understanding that professional societies have a unique responsibility in their role as standard-setters for STEMM fields to address the pervasive problem of sexual and gender harassment. 

“Across our membership and throughout our programs and conferences, INFORMS has long been committed to providing an environment that encourages and supports equal opportunity, free expression, freedom from discrimination, harassment and retaliation, full participation in all activities and leadership, and collaboration among people of different backgrounds,” said 2019 INFORMS President Ramayya Krishnan. “Participating in the Societies Consortium is an essential part of ensuring we are successful in reaching our diversity and inclusion goals.” 

“Joining the Societies Consortium strengthens INFORMS’ commitment to the critical goal of stopping and preventing all forms of harassment,” said Pinar Keskinocak, who will serve as INFORMS 2020 President. “Working together with peer societies we can better ensure our policies and procedures are consistent with broader best practices that are paramount to meaningful and successful diversity and inclusion programs, and to the overall health and efficacy of INFORMS.” 

More information about the Societies Consortium is available here.