Privacy Policy

Introduction

Authentic Research Partners LLC, a company based in Princeton, New Jersey, operates the Society of Teen Scientists ("SoTS," "we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information when visitors, applicants, participants, members, parents, educators, and other users access our website, programs, public browser tools, and other services (collectively, our "Service").

We understand that privacy is especially important to young people and their parents or guardians. This policy is designed to be clear and transparent about our practices, and we are committed to maintaining your trust.

Countries and Regions We Serve

SoTS is a global organization welcoming teen scientists from around the world. We currently serve members in the following countries and regions:

North America

• United States (all 50 states)
• Canada
• Mexico

Europe

• United Kingdom
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Latvia
• Malta
• Poland
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Norway
• Iceland

Asia-Pacific

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Japan
• Singapore
• Hong Kong

Availability and participation requirements vary by location. We apply privacy and parental-involvement requirements according to the applicable law and the particular activity, as described throughout this policy.

Our Privacy Principles

Before diving into the details, here are the core principles that guide our privacy practices:

What Information Do We Collect?

We collect several types of information to provide, maintain, and improve our Service:

1. Application and Participation Information

When you apply, enroll, register for an event, submit work, or participate in a program, we may collect:

• Email address
• Date of birth or age information when needed to verify eligibility
• Country/region of residence
• Type of school/organization

2. Profile and Research Information

To help you build your research profile and participate in our community, we may collect:

A Research Profile Page, if published, documents research activity. It is not a website account. SoTS does not provide user accounts or account settings on this website.

• First and last name
• Research interests and areas of study
• Academic achievements and awards
• Research projects and publications
• Content you submit for publication in the Proceedings of the Society of Teen Scientists
• Biographical information for your Research Profile Page

3. Payment Information

Public website materials and the Research Mentor browser version do not require payment. A valid payment method may be required for paid memberships, evaluations, programs, events, publications, or other paid services.

For paid memberships and additional services, we collect:

• Billing name and email
• Payment method information (processed securely through our payment processor, Stripe)

We do not directly store complete credit card numbers on our servers. Payment processing is handled by Stripe, a third-party payment processor who complies with PCI-DSS standards. For more information about how Stripe handles your payment information, please see Stripe's privacy policy at https://stripe.com/privacy.

4. Communication Information

We collect information when you communicate with us:

• Support and help requests
• Emails and messages sent to us
• Survey responses and feedback
• Communications related to webinars and events

5. Usage and Analytics Information

We use Google Analytics across the website, including on the Research Mentor browser page, to count visits and understand page-level engagement. It may automatically collect:

• Device information (type, operating system, browser)
• IP address and general location information (city/state level)
• Pages visited and features used
• Time spent on the Service
• Referring website or source
• A pseudonymous browser identifier stored in a first-party cookie

We have turned off Google Analytics Enhanced Measurement. Our site still sends page views and measures time spent with a page in focus. On the Research Mentor browser page, we do not send conversation text, form responses, saved conversation files, or word counts derived from the conversation to Google Analytics. Page-view URLs omit query strings and fragments. Google processes analytics information under its own terms and privacy policy.

6. Webinar and Event Information

When you participate in webinars, virtual lab meetings, or the SoTS Science Conference for Teenagers, we may collect:

• Registration information
• Attendance records
• Questions submitted during events
• Presentation materials you share

Age Verification and Parental Consent

We request age information only when it is needed for eligibility, safety, or legal compliance in a membership application, program enrollment, publication submission, or event registration. The Research Mentor browser version does not require an account.

Participation Information

Membership and teen programs are generally limited to young scientists aged 19 or younger. We may ask for a date of birth, age range, or parent or guardian information when someone applies, enrolls, submits work, or participates. We rely on the accuracy of the information provided.

Parental Consent Requirements

The age at which a young person may consent to processing personal information varies by country and by the nature and legal basis of the processing. We apply the rule relevant to the participant's location and the particular SoTS activity rather than assuming one age for every country.

We obtain parent or legal guardian permission or authorization where required by applicable law or an SoTS program's participation rules. This may apply to public Research Profiles, named publications, communications, in-person activities, and other features involving a minor's personal information or safety. Parents and guardians may contact privacy@teenscientists.org about consent or information maintained about their child.

Children Under 13

Before knowingly collecting personal information from a child under 13 in the United States for membership, a program, publication, event, or similar participation, we obtain verifiable parental consent when required. We use a verification method appropriate to the information and activity involved and provide the parent or legal guardian with the required notice.

Parent Rights

• Review all personal information collected
• Request deletion at any time
• Refuse further collection, which may end the affected participation
• Receive direct notice of our data practices

Data Minimization

We collect only information necessary for participation.

No Behavioral Advertising

We never use under-13 data for targeted advertising.

Research Mentor Browser Version

The browser version does not ask for a name, email address, date of birth, or registration, and it does not send conversation content to SoTS. Google Analytics remains active for page visits and engagement as described above, but it does not receive the conversation. Anyone under 18 may use Research Mentor only with permission and supervision from a parent or legal guardian. Ordinary requests for the webpage, software runtime, and model download may still provide network information such as an IP address to hosting and content-delivery providers.

How Do We Use Your Information?

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

To Provide and Maintain Our Service

• Process applications, enrollments, and submissions
• Process payments and membership fees
• Provide access to publications, tools, and resources
• Prepare or maintain a Research Profile Page when applicable
• Enable you to publish in the Proceedings
• Facilitate communication with other members (where appropriate)

To Improve and Personalize Our Service

• Understand how members use the Service
• Identify areas for improvement
• Develop new features and tools
• Respond to requests for research opportunities or program information

To Communicate With You

• Send important updates about applications, payments, or membership
• Notify you about research opportunities, webinars, and events
• Respond to your questions and support requests
• Send newsletters and announcements (with your consent)
• Request feedback through surveys

To Ensure Safety and Security

• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized access
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect the rights and safety of our members and organization

To Conduct Research and Analysis

• Understand trends in teen research interests
• Evaluate the effectiveness of our programs
• Generate aggregated, de-identified statistics about our community

Automated Decision-Making and AI

We offer optional artificial-intelligence tools and may use automated systems for limited operational tasks. Research Mentor output is educational guidance, not an SoTS decision about membership, publication, or program eligibility.

Research Mentor Browser Version

The browser version processes the conversation according to the model option you select:

• LLM in this browser: The model and conversation run on your device. Model files are stored in browser cache until you remove them through the interface or browser controls.
• LLM on this computer with Ollama: Messages are sent to the Ollama address you enter. With the default local address, processing stays on that computer; a remote or shared address may send the conversation elsewhere.
• LLM in the cloud with Ollama: The local Ollama application forwards the conversation to Ollama Cloud under your Ollama relationship and Ollama's terms and privacy policy.

Authentic Research Partners LLC, which operates SoTS, does not receive or store browser-version conversation text. Conversation history exists in page memory while the session is open. If you choose “Save the conversation,” your browser creates a file on your device; it is not uploaded to us. The browser version does not combine conversations with successful projects, create profiles, or use conversation text for advertising, profiling, or AI training.

Software and Model Downloads

When you start the in-browser model, your browser downloads the AI runtime from jsDelivr and the model file from Hugging Face. Those providers receive ordinary network-request information, such as an IP address, browser information, and the requested file. They do not receive the Research Mentor conversation from us. Their own terms and privacy policies govern their handling of request information.

Installable Research Mentor

The separate installable application can maintain local project history and files and can provide continuing guidance, literature-search tools, and research-skill assessment and development monitoring. Its data stays local unless the user activates a feature or model provider that sends data elsewhere. The application identifies those connections in its documentation and interface; third-party terms and privacy policies apply to services the user chooses.

Publication Screening

Submissions to the Proceedings undergo initial automated screening for plagiarism, formatting compliance, and basic quality standards. All final publication decisions are made by human editors.

Your Rights Regarding Automated Decision-Making

How Do We Share Your Information?

We limit sharing of your personal information and only share it in the following circumstances:

With Your Consent

• When you choose to publish research in the Proceedings, your name and work become publicly available
• When we publish a Research Profile Page with the permissions required for that participant and activity
• When you explicitly consent to share information in other ways

Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our Service, including:

• Payment processors (for membership fees and tool subscriptions)
• Email service providers (for communications)
• Cloud hosting services (for data storage and website hosting)
• Analytics providers (to understand Service usage)

These providers process information under their agreements with us or, for services you choose directly, under their own terms and privacy policies. Providers involved in the browser version include website and content-delivery providers, Google Analytics for page-level usage, jsDelivr and Hugging Face for software and model downloads, and Ollama when you choose an Ollama connection.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, such as:

• In response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal process
• To comply with legal or regulatory requirements
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of SoTS, our members, or others
• In connection with an investigation of fraud, abuse, or illegal activity

Business Transfers

If Authentic Research Partners LLC, which operates SoTS, is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, information may be transferred to the new entity. We will notify affected people of any such change and any choices they may have when required.

Aggregated or De-identified Information

We may share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you, such as:

• Statistics about our membership demographics
• Trends in research topics and interests
• General usage patterns

Your Choices and Rights

You have control over your personal information:

Access and Update Your Information

To ask what personal information we maintain about you, or to request a correction, contact us at privacy@teenscientists.org.

Request Deletion

You may request deletion of personal information we maintain about you by emailing privacy@teenscientists.org. When we approve and complete a deletion request:

• Most of your personal information will be permanently deleted
• Published research in the Proceedings may remain accessible (as it contributes to the scientific record), but can be de-identified upon request
• Some information may be retained for legal or operational purposes (e.g., transaction records)

Communication Preferences

You can control the types of emails you receive from us:

• Click "unsubscribe" in any marketing email
• Contact team@teenscientists.org to update other communication preferences
• Note: We may still send essential messages about an application, payment, membership, enrollment, submission, or scheduled activity

Cookies and Tracking

Google Analytics uses a first-party cookie to distinguish pseudonymous visitors and sessions. You can block or delete cookies through browser controls. Browser storage used to cache the optional Research Mentor model is functional device storage, not advertising or analytics tracking, and you can remove that model through the Research Mentor interface.

Parental Rights and Involvement

Parents and guardians play an important role in young people's online activities. Rights over a minor's information vary by jurisdiction, age, and context. We honor rights required by applicable law and may provide additional access when doing so is consistent with the young person's privacy, safety, and legal rights.

Requests From Parents and Guardians

Subject to appropriate identity and authority verification and applicable law, a parent or legal guardian may ask us to:

• Access: Review what personal information we have collected about your teen
• Correct: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Delete: Request deletion of personal information about their child
• Limit: Restrict what information we collect or how we use it
• Export: Receive a copy of your teen's data in a portable format
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw consent where consent is the basis for processing, which may end the affected participation
• Review communications: See what types of communications we send
• Communication choices: Update applicable communication preferences

We balance a parent's or guardian's request with the young person's age, autonomy, privacy, and safety. We may notify the young person about a request unless law or safety considerations indicate otherwise.

How to Exercise Parental Rights

Step 1: Contact us

Email us at privacy@teenscientists.org with:

• Your name and relationship to the teen
• The teen's name and the contact information used with SoTS
• Specific request (access, delete, correct, etc.)

Step 2: Verify your identity

We will request only the information reasonably necessary to verify identity and parental authority. Depending on the request, this may include:

• Matching contact information from an application or enrollment
• Government-issued ID showing same last name and address
• Birth certificate or legal guardianship documents
• Video verification call

Step 3: Receive response

We will acknowledge and respond within the period required by applicable law. We will explain if we need additional verification, more time, or cannot fulfill part of a request.

No fee: We do not charge for exercising parental rights unless the request is manifestly unfounded or excessive.

For Teen Members

We encourage you to discuss your use of SoTS with your parents or guardians. If you're under 18, consider having a conversation with them about:

• What you're sharing on the Service
• Your research interests and activities
• Your privacy and communication choices
• Any concerns you have about privacy or safety

How Do We Protect Your Information?

We take security seriously and implement multiple safeguards to protect your personal information:

Technical Safeguards

• Encrypted transmission: Our website uses HTTPS to protect information in transit
• Secure servers: Our servers are hosted with reputable providers who maintain high security standards
• Access controls: We limit access to personal information to authorized personnel only
• Data minimization: We seek to limit collection to information needed for the relevant activity

Organizational Safeguards

• Responsible handling: We provide privacy and security guidance to people who handle personal information
• Least privilege: Employees only have access to the information they need to perform their jobs
• Incident response: We have procedures in place to respond to security incidents

Monitoring and Testing

• Review: We review security and privacy practices as our services change
• Maintenance: We address reported vulnerabilities and maintain software we operate
• Provider controls: We select service providers with security and privacy controls appropriate to their role

No system is 100% secure: While we work hard to protect your information, please understand that no security measures are perfect. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide you with our Service
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements

When we complete an approved deletion request:

• Personal information covered by the request is deleted or de-identified
• Some information may be retained longer for legal reasons (e.g., payment records for tax purposes)
• Published research may remain in the Proceedings but can be de-identified upon request

We do not retain Research Mentor browser-version conversations because we do not receive them. A conversation remains in page memory during the session, and any conversation file you save or model file cached by the browser remains under your control on your device.

Aggregated or de-identified information may be retained indefinitely.

Third-Party Websites and Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites, services, or content that we do not control. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party services you use.

Examples of third-party services you might encounter:

• External research databases or journals
• Social media platforms (if you choose to share content)
• Universities or research institutions linked in our resources
• Video conferencing platforms used for webinars
• Google Analytics on site routes where analytics is active
• jsDelivr and Hugging Face for browser-model software and file downloads
• Ollama services when you choose an Ollama connection

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.

International Users

SoTS is based in the United States, and our servers are located in the United States. If you are accessing our Service from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.

The United States may not have the same data protection laws as your country. Where required, we use an applicable legal basis and appropriate safeguards for international transfers. Research Mentor browser-version conversations are not transferred to us.

For Users in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, or Switzerland

If you are located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you may have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@teenscientists.org.

We rely on the following legal bases for processing your information:

• Consent: When you agree to our processing activities
• Contract: To fulfill our obligations under our Terms of Service
• Legitimate interests: To improve our Service and ensure security
• Legal obligations: To comply with applicable laws

California Privacy Rights

California law may provide additional privacy rights. To the extent the California Consumer Privacy Act or another California privacy law applies to our processing, we will honor the rights it provides.

California Privacy Requests

Right to Know:

You can request information about the personal information we have collected about you in the past 12 months, including:

• Categories and specific pieces of information collected
• Sources of information
• Purposes for collecting information
• Categories of third parties with whom we share information

Right to Delete:

You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.

Right to Opt-Out:

We do not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Right to Non-Discrimination:

We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

Additional Rights for California Minors (Under 18)

Right to Remove Posted Content (Business & Professions Code § 22581):

If you are a California resident under 18, you have the right to request removal of content or information you posted publicly. To exercise this right:

• Email privacy@teenscientists.org with the subject "California Minor Content Removal Request"
• Specify the content you want removed (URL or description)
• We will process the request within the period required by applicable law

Important: This right applies to content you posted, not content posted by others. Some content may not be able to be completely removed if:

• Federal or state law requires us to maintain the content
• The content was anonymized so we cannot identify it
• You were compensated for the content and provided consent

For research published in the Proceedings, we offer two options: (1) complete removal of your submission, or (2) de-identification (removing your name but keeping the research contribution).

No Sale of Minor Data:

We do not sell or share personal information of California residents under 18 for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Privacy Protections for Minors

Our current public-service design includes the following protections:

• The Research Mentor browser version requires no account or registration
• Google Analytics measures page visits and engagement but does not receive Research Mentor conversation text
• Browser-version conversations are not sent to or stored by SoTS
• We do not use Research Mentor conversations for profiling or advertising

How to Exercise Your California Rights

To submit a request:

• Email us at privacy@teenscientists.org
• For minors under 18: Include "California Minor" in your subject line for expedited processing

We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. We will respond within 45 days (may extend to 90 days for complex requests with notification).

Canada Privacy Rights (PIPEDA)

If you are a Canadian resident, you may have rights under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy laws:

Your Rights Under PIPEDA

• Right to Access: Request access to your personal information we hold
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time
• Right to Complain: File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

Parental Requests: A parent or legal guardian may submit a request concerning information about their child. We evaluate the request under applicable law and verify identity and authority as appropriate.

To exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@teenscientists.org.

Australia and New Zealand Privacy Rights

If you are a resident of Australia or New Zealand, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws:

Australia (Privacy Act 1988)

• Right to Access: Request access to your personal information
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or out-of-date information
• Right to Complain: Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
• Parental Requests: Parents and guardians may submit requests concerning a minor's information, subject to applicable law and verification

New Zealand (Privacy Act 2020)

• Right to Access: Request access to your personal information
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Right to Complain: Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information in certain circumstances

To exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@teenscientists.org.

Japan and Asia-Pacific Privacy Rights

If you are a resident of Japan, Singapore, or Hong Kong, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws:

Japan (Act on the Protection of Personal Information - APPI)

• Right to Disclosure: Request disclosure of your personal information
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of personal information obtained unlawfully
• Right to Suspension: Request suspension of use or deletion of data used beyond original purpose

Singapore (Personal Data Protection Act - PDPA)

• Right to Access: Request access to your personal data
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing

Hong Kong (Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance - PDPO)

• Right to Access: Request access to your personal data
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to Object: Object to use of data for direct marketing

Parental Involvement: We encourage parental involvement for younger teens. Requests from a parent or legal guardian are evaluated under applicable law and with appropriate verification.

To exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@teenscientists.org.

Mexico Privacy Rights

If you are a Mexican resident, you may have rights under the Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties (LFPDPPP):

Your ARCO Rights

• Access: Request access to your personal data
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Cancellation: Request deletion of your personal data
• Opposition: Object to processing of your personal data for specific purposes

Parental Rights: Parents of users under 18 may exercise ARCO rights on behalf of their teen.

To exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@teenscientists.org. We will respond within 20 business days.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• For material changes, we will notify you by email or through a prominent notice on our Service
• Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

SMS and Phone Communications

We provide a phone number for support inquiries. You may contact us via phone call or SMS (text message) at (609) 318-0999.

Outbound SMS Communications

If you provide your phone number and opt in to receive text messages, we may send you SMS communications for the following purposes:

• Appointment Reminders: Reminders for Research Labs sessions, scheduled calls, or other appointments
• Service Notifications: Important updates such as session cancellations, schedule changes, or time-sensitive information
• Participation Alerts: Payment confirmations, membership updates, or enrollment-related notifications
• Support Responses: Replies to your support inquiries

Your SMS Choices

• Opt Out: Reply STOP to any text message to unsubscribe from all SMS communications. You can also email team@teenscientists.org.
• Help: Reply HELP to any text message for assistance.
• Message Frequency: Message frequency varies based on your program enrollment and scheduled activities.

Inbound Communications

When you contact us via SMS or phone call (without having opted in to outbound messages):

• We do not add your phone number to any marketing database
• We only use your number to respond to your inquiry
• You will not receive unsolicited messages from us

Standard message and data rates from your mobile carrier may apply to both inbound and outbound SMS communications. We are not responsible for any charges from your carrier.