UK RAS STEPS takes the privacy of your data very seriously. This privacy policy applies to our use of all data collected by us, or provided by you, in relation to your use of our website. Please read this privacy policy carefully.
Scope of this privacy policy
This privacy policy only applies to the UK RAS STEPS website. It does not extend to any websites that can be accessed from this website, including (but not limited to) any links we may provide to social media websites. For the purposes of the applicable Data Protect Laws, UK RAS STEPS is the “data controller”. This means that UK RAS STEPS determines the purposes for which, and the manner in which, your data is processed.
Definitions
In this privacy policy, we will use the following terms:
| UK RAS STEPS, we or us |
The UK RAS STEPS Network, a research technology platform supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. You can contact us at info@ukras-steps.org. |
| Data | This refers collectively to all information that we collect or that you provide while using our website. |
| User or you | Any third party that accesses the website and is not either (i) employed by UK RAS STEPS and acting in the course of their employment, or (ii) engaged as a consultant or otherwise providing services to UK RAS STEPS and accessing the website in connection with the provision of such services. |
| Website | The UK RAS STEPS website (https://www.ukras-steps.org/) |
| Data Protection Laws | This refers to any applicable law relating to the processing of personal data, including (but not limited to) the Directive 96/46/EC (Data Protection Directive) or the General Data Protection Regulation EU 2016/679 (GDPR), and any national implementing laws, regulations and secondary legislation, for as long as the GDPR is effective in the UK. |
Types of data we collect
We may collect the following data, which includes personal data, from you:
- Name
- Job title
- Profession
- Company or University affiliation
- Contact information, such as email address or telephone number
- Demographic information, such as postcode, preferences or interests
How we collect data
We collect data about our users in two ways:
- data is collected automatically
- data is provided by you
Data that is provided by you
Our website includes a number of forms (e.g. Contact Us, Submit a News Item, Add a Job Listing, Subscribe to our Newsletter) that you can use to submit your information to us.
If you complete one of the forms on our website we will create a cookie when your entry is submitted. The cookie saves the ID of the form and the time the entry was submitted. If you enter your personal data (e.g. Name, Email Address) on one of our forms, this information will be stored on our website when you click ‘submit’.
If you opt-in to our newsletter via our website, then the data you provide will be stored by MailChimp until you choose to unsubscribe.
If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
Data that is collected automatically
We use Google Analytics to collect data about our users automatically when they visit the website. This information helps us to make improvements to the content and navigation and to evaluate the success of our communications campaigns. This information includes your IP address, the date, times and frequency with which you access the website, and the way you interact with its content
Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
How long we retain your data
Unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law, we will only hold your data on our systems for the period necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, or until you request that the data be deleted.
If you enter your personal data on one of our forms, this information will only be retained for the duration that it takes to process the required action. For example, if you submit a query on the ‘Contact Us’ form, we will store your data until we have responded to your query and resolved the matter to your satisfaction.
If you submit your personal data (e.g. Name, Email Address) to be listed in our Network Committee register, this information will be displayed on our website, in accordance with your submitted preferences, indefinitely.
Even if we delete your data, it may persist on backup or archival media for legal, tax or regulatory purposes.
Who we share data with
We may share your data with our employees, agents and/or professional advisors for the development of our research network.
How we keep data secure
To safeguard your data, we store all data on secure servers. If you suspect any misuse, loss or unauthorised access to your Data, please let us know immediately by contacting us at info@ukras-steps.org.
For detailed information about how to protect your information, computers and devices against fraud, identify theft, viruses and other online problems, please visit Get Safe Online (https://www.getsafeonline.org/). Get Safe Online is supported by HM Government.
What rights you have over your data
At any time, you have the right to request:
- An exported file of the personal data we hold about
- That we erase the personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
- Rectify your data if is it inaccurate or incomplete
You have the right to restrict our use of your data or to object to our use of your data, including where we use it for our legitimate interests.
All such requests should be sent to info@ukras-steps.org.
If you are not satisfied with the way a complaint you make in relation to your data is handled by us, you may be able to refer your complaint to the relevant data protection authority. For the UK, this is the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). The ICO’s contact details can be found on their website: https://ico.org.uk.