In May 2024, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) launched the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) Sexual Assault and Harassment Climate Survey (SAHCS) to gather data to support the NSF Sexual Assault and Harassment Prevention and Response (NSF SAHPR) program office efforts for the USAP.
The voluntary survey, open May through July 2024, was sent to USAP community members deployed between the years 2022 and 2024 and aimed to gather baseline data on sexual assault and harassment and bystander experience, as well as workplace satisfaction and cultural norms data within the community. NSF contracted with Leading and Dynamic Services and Solutions (LDSS) to conduct the USAP SAHCS.
The USAP SAHCS is now closed. NSF thanks all those who responded to the survey for their time and willingness to help move the USAP toward a safe and respectful workplace for all.
If you have general questions regarding the survey, please contact the NSF SAHPR program office at USAPclimateSurvey@nsf.gov or find answers to frequently asked questions below.
This study is authorized by law (42 U.S.C. 1862 Section 3.a.6.). The OMB control number for this study is 3145-0260.
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Frequently asked questions
The goal of the climate survey is to generate solution-oriented data that will paint a comprehensive picture of the health and challenges of the USAP workplace and community in which problem behaviors arise and to identify the healthy characteristics and elements of the overall USAP environment that can be enhanced or changed to address these problems.
This survey will gather baseline data on sexual assault and harassment and bystander experience within the USAP community, as well as workplace satisfaction and cultural norms data. Data gathered from the climate survey will be used to inform other final report recommendations, including sexual assault and harassment policies, response and prevention.
All USAP deployers between the 2022-2024 seasons were invited via email to participate in the USAP Sexual Assault and Harassment Climate Survey. The survey was open for 60 days, from May 28, 2024 through July 27,2024.
The survey is confidential. No personally identifiable information collected in the USAP Sexual Assault and Harassment Climate Survey will be shared with NSF.
The USAP Sexual Assault and Harassment Climate Survey can take up to 25-30 minutes to complete.
No. Survey participants were not required to answers any questions they did not want to answer. Invited participants had the option to select "Prefer not to answer" and could stop participating in the survey at any time.
To report a sexual assault, you have the option of reporting directly to the NSF Office of Inspector General (NSF OIG) at https://oig.nsf.gov/hotline.
If you are a U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) participant (past or current) you can reach out to the confidential USAP Victim Advocate. The USAP Victim Advocate provides confidential information about safety planning, reporting, possible accommodations, and other support resources for members of the USAP community who experience sexual assault and/or sexual harassment.
Email: USAPadvocate@LDSScorp.com
Phone: 720-568-1083.
USAP Extension: x42709.
If you are a U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) participant (past or current) there are additional SAHPR support resources available to you immediately should you need them:
You can reach out to the confidential USAP Victim Advocate. The USAP Victim Advocate provides confidential information about safety planning, reporting, possible accommodations and other support resources for members of the USAP community who experience sexual assault and/or sexual harassment.
Email: USAPadvocate@LDSScorp.com
Phone: 720-568-1083.
USAP Extension: x42709.
For 24/7 immediate crisis intervention or emotional support related to sexual violence, you can also call the NSF Antarctic Helpline:
NSF Antarctic Helpline:
Phone: 833-673-1733
Text: 202-932-7569
Website and Online Chat: NSFAntarcticHelpline.org
These services are anonymous, secure and available to USAP community members on and off the ice. You can learn more about the helpline at https://nsfantarctichelpline.org.
For support with understanding your reporting options for sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking and access to support resources, the NSF SAHPR program office is the agency’s central point of contact for coordinating response to sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking incidents and is responsible for overseeing comprehensive prevention practices. To learn more about the NSF SAHPR program office, visit https://new.nsf.gov/stopping-harassment/sahpr.
Individuals also have the option of reporting to the NSF Office of Inspector General (NSF OIG) at https://oig.nsf.gov/hotline.
The timeline is driven by the time it takes for Leading and Dynamic Services and Solutions (LDSS) to complete the analysis. NSF anticipates having results to share publicly in early 2025.
Beginning on May 28, 2024, USAP participants who deployed between the 2022-2024 seasons were invited via email to participate in the USAP Sexual Assault and Harassment Climate Survey. The survey was open for 60 days, from May 28, 2024 through July 27,2024.
For questions regarding the USAP SAHCS, please contact the NSF SAHPR program office at USAPclimateSurvey@nsf.gov.