Terms of Service

Welcome to the Society of Teen Scientists

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Society of Teen Scientists ("SoTS," "we," "us," or "our") website, mobile applications, and online services (collectively, the "Service"). SoTS is operated by Authentic Research Partners LLC, a company based in Princeton, New Jersey.

Please read these Terms carefully. By creating an account or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Service.

1. Eligibility and Account Requirements

Age Eligibility

To use the Service, you must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• You must be at least 13 years old. If you are under 13, you may not create an account or use the Service under any circumstances.
• You must be no older than 22 years old. SoTS is designed for young scientists aged 13-22.
• You must provide accurate age verification information during registration.

Countries and Regions We Serve

SoTS is available to teen scientists 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

We comply with the laws and regulations applicable in each of these jurisdictions. For detailed information about your privacy rights, please see our Privacy Policy.

Parental Consent Requirements

For users ages 13-15 in California:

Under California law, we notify parents or guardians when teens ages 13-15 create accounts and obtain consent for certain features including public profiles and named publications. We encourage all California teens to discuss their use of SoTS with their parents or guardians.

For European users (ages 13-22):

All European countries we serve have set the age of digital consent at 13 years old under GDPR Article 8. This means users aged 13-22 do not require parental consent to use our Service. However, we strongly encourage parental involvement for younger teens (13-15), and parents have the right to review and manage their teen's account.

For users in other countries:

While not legally required, we encourage parental involvement for all users ages 13-15 and provide parents with oversight rights for their teen's account. Parents may contact us at any time to discuss their teen's account.

Account Creation

To create an account, you must:

• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the accuracy of your account information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account
• Not share your account credentials with anyone else
• Not create multiple accounts (you may only have one active account at a time)

Age Verification

During registration, you must provide your date of birth to confirm you meet our age requirements (13-22 years old). We rely on the accuracy of the information you provide. If we discover you do not meet the age requirements, we will suspend or terminate your account.

Reporting Underage or Overage Users

2. Membership and Payment Terms

Membership Tiers

SoTS offers several membership tiers:

Premier Founding Members (First 100):

• $1/month or $10/year lifetime rate (as long as you remain eligible)
• 5 weeks of beta testing access to AI Research Mentor
• Access to all standard features
• Special "Premier Founding Member" badge on profile

Founding Members (Members 101-1000):

• $2/month or $20/year lifetime rate (as long as you remain eligible)
• Possibility to participate in beta testing of new features
• Access to all standard features
• "Founding Member" badge on profile

Regular Membership:

• $3/month or $30/year (save $6/year)
• Access to all standard features

AI Research Mentor Add-On:

• Currently in beta testing - available to Premier and Founding Members
• After beta testing ends: $30/month subscription fee
• Requires active base membership
• Can be added or removed at any time

Payment Processing

Payment Required: A valid payment method (credit card or debit card) is required to create an account. There is no free trial period. Your membership begins immediately upon successful payment.

All payments are processed through Stripe, our third-party payment processor. By providing payment information, you agree to:

• Stripe's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (https://stripe.com/legal)
• Authorize automatic recurring charges for subscription memberships
• Provide accurate and current payment information
• Promptly update payment information if your payment method changes or expires

Important for Minors: If you are under 18, you must have your parent or guardian's permission to provide payment information or incur charges. By providing payment information, you represent that you have obtained such permission. Parents and guardians are ultimately responsible for all charges incurred by minor users.

Billing and Renewals

• Monthly Memberships: Billed on the same day each month until canceled
• Annual Memberships: Billed once per year on the anniversary of your subscription date
• Automatic Renewal: All memberships automatically renew unless you cancel before the next billing date
• Price Changes: Founding member lifetime rates will never increase. For regular memberships, we will notify you at least 30 days before any price increase takes effect.

Cancellation and Refunds

How to Cancel:

• Log into your account settings
• Navigate to "Membership & Billing"
• Click "Cancel Membership"
• Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation

Effect of Cancellation:

• You will retain access until the end of your current billing period
• No refunds will be issued for partial billing periods
• You will not be charged again after your current billing period ends
• Your account will remain accessible in read-only mode
• Published research in the Proceedings will remain available unless you request removal

Refund Policy:

• Monthly Memberships: No refunds for monthly fees. Cancel before the next billing date to avoid future charges.
• Annual Memberships: Refunds available within 14 days of initial purchase or renewal. After 14 days, no refunds for unused portion of annual term.
• Special Circumstances: We may provide refunds at our discretion for extenuating circumstances (e.g., serious illness, family emergency). Contact support@teenscientists.org to request consideration.
• Parent/Guardian Requests: If a parent or guardian requests a refund because a minor user signed up without permission, we will review on a case-by-case basis.

To request a refund, contact support@teenscientists.org within the applicable refund period. Refunds are processed within 10 business days of approval.

Payment Failures

If your payment method fails:

• We will notify you by email
• We will attempt to charge your payment method again
• If payment fails multiple times, your account may be downgraded or suspended
• You are responsible for any fees charged by your bank or card issuer

3. Acceptable Use and Community Guidelines

SoTS is a community of young scientists dedicated to research, learning, and collaboration. To keep our community safe, respectful, and productive, all users must follow these guidelines.

You Agree to Use the Service Respectfully

DO:

• Treat all members with respect and kindness
• Engage in constructive scientific discussion and debate
• Provide helpful feedback to other members
• Report safety concerns or policy violations to us
• Respect intellectual property and give proper attribution
• Follow academic integrity and research ethics standards

DO NOT:

• Bully, harass, threaten, or intimidate other users
• Use hate speech or discriminatory language based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic
• Share sexually explicit, violent, or otherwise inappropriate content
• Impersonate another person or organization
• Spam or send unsolicited messages to other users
• Use the Service for commercial purposes without our permission
• Attempt to hack, disrupt, or damage the Service
• Collect personal information about other users
• Encourage or assist anyone in violating these Terms or applicable laws

Research Integrity and Academic Honesty

SoTS is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity. All users must:

Data Integrity:

• Never fabricate or falsify data
• Accurately report your research methods and results
• Disclose any conflicts of interest or funding sources that might influence your work
• Acknowledge collaborators and contributors appropriately

Using AI Tools Responsibly:

• Our AI Research Mentor is a tool to guide and support your work, not to do the work for you
• Disclose when you have used AI assistance in your research or writing
• Do not present AI-generated content as your own original work
• Always verify AI-generated information with reliable sources

Prohibited Content

You may not post, share, or transmit content that:

• Violates any local, state, national, or international law or regulation
• Infringes any patent, trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property right
• Is defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit
• Promotes violence, self-harm, or dangerous activities
• Contains personal information about other users without their consent
• Contains malware, viruses, or other harmful computer code
• Is spam, advertising, or promotional material (without our permission)
• Promotes illegal substances, underage drinking, or other unlawful activity

Consequences for Violations

We take violations of these guidelines seriously. Depending on the severity and frequency of violations, we may:

• Warning: Issue a written warning and require corrective action
• Content Removal: Remove violating content from the Service
• Temporary Suspension: Suspend your account for a specified period (typically 7-30 days)
• Permanent Termination: Permanently terminate your account and ban you from creating new accounts
• Legal Action: Report illegal activity to law enforcement or pursue legal remedies
• School Notification: Notify your school or institution of serious violations (e.g., plagiarism, academic dishonesty)

Serious violations (such as plagiarism, harassment, illegal activity, or threats) may result in immediate permanent termination without prior warning.

4. Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content

"Your Content" means any research, writing, data, images, profiles, comments, questions, or other materials you submit, post, or share through the Service.

You retain ownership of Your Content. You maintain all ownership rights to your original work. However, by submitting content to SoTS, you grant us certain licenses to use that content as described below.

License for General Content

For content you share through the Service (profiles, comments, questions, etc.), you grant SoTS a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Display, reproduce, and distribute your content on the Service
• Modify and adapt your content for technical compatibility (e.g., formatting, compression)
• Create de-identified or aggregated versions for analytics and improvement purposes

This license ends when you delete your content, except for content that has been shared with other users or incorporated into aggregated data.

License for Published Research

When you submit research for publication in the Proceedings of the Society of Teen Scientists, you grant SoTS and the public a broader license:

What This Means: Once you publish research in the Proceedings, it becomes part of the scientific record. Others can read, cite, and build upon your work. This is how science advances! However, you always retain ownership of your original work and can publish it elsewhere.

Rights to Your Published Research

Even after publication, you retain important rights:

• Ownership: You still own your research
• Republication: You can publish the same or adapted versions elsewhere (journals, books, your own website)
• Commercial Use: You can commercialize your research or license it to others
• Credit: Your authorship will always be attributed to you

Content Removal Rights (California Minors)

Special Rights for California Users Under 18:

Under California Business & Professions Code § 22581, if you are a California resident under 18, you have the right to request removal of content you posted. To exercise this right:

• Email privacy@teenscientists.org with the subject "California Minor Content Removal Request"
• Identify the specific content you want removed (URL or description)
• We will respond within 10 business days

For published research in the Proceedings:

Because published research becomes part of the scientific record, complete removal may not always be appropriate. Instead, we offer:

• De-identification: Remove your name and identifying information while keeping the research contribution (recommended for most cases)
• Retraction: Completely remove the publication and replace it with a "Retraction Notice" (typically for serious errors or ethical issues)
• Full Deletion: Permanently delete the content entirely (available in certain circumstances)

We will work with you to determine the most appropriate option.

Limitations: We cannot remove content that:

• Was posted by someone else (you can only remove your own content)
• Federal or state law requires us to maintain
• Has been anonymized so we cannot identify it as yours
• Cannot be completely erased from the internet (third-party copies, archives, search engine caches)

Retraction and Correction Policy

If you discover an error in your published research, you can request:

• Correction Notice: For minor errors that don't change the conclusions
• Erratum: For more significant errors requiring clarification
• Retraction: For major errors that invalidate the research

Contact support@teenscientists.org to request a correction or retraction. All corrections and retractions will be clearly marked on the publication.

SoTS's Intellectual Property

The Service itself (website, software, design, logos, trademarks) is owned by SoTS and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not:

• Copy, modify, or create derivative works of the Service
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract the source code
• Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices
• Use our name, logos, or trademarks without permission
• Frame or mirror any part of the Service

Copyright Infringement

We respect the intellectual property rights of others and expect our users to do the same. If you believe content on the Service infringes your copyright:

• Email support@teenscientists.org with:
• Identification of the copyrighted work you claim was infringed
• Identification of the allegedly infringing content on our Service
• Your contact information
• A statement that you have a good faith belief the use is unauthorized
• A statement that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner

We will investigate and may remove infringing content. Repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

AI-Generated Content

If you use our AI Research Mentor or other AI tools, please note:

• AI-generated suggestions are not guaranteed to be accurate, original, or appropriate
• You are responsible for verifying all AI-generated information
• You must disclose when you have used AI assistance in your research or writing
• Do not present AI output as your own original work without modification
• SoTS is not liable for errors, plagiarism, or other issues arising from AI-generated content

5. AI Research Mentor and Tools

What the AI Research Mentor Does

Our AI Research Mentor is an artificial intelligence tool designed to guide you through the research process. It can:

• Help you develop research questions and hypotheses
• Suggest research methods and experimental designs
• Recommend relevant literature and resources
• Provide feedback on your writing and analysis
• Guide you through the publication process

What the AI Research Mentor Does NOT Do

Your Responsibilities When Using AI Tools

When using the AI Research Mentor, you agree to:

• Use it as a learning and guidance tool, not as a shortcut
• Verify all information and suggestions before relying on them
• Disclose AI assistance when submitting work
• Not use it to cheat, plagiarize, or circumvent academic requirements
• Not hold SoTS liable for any outcomes or consequences of following AI suggestions

Data Used for AI Training

To improve the AI Research Mentor, we may use aggregated, de-identified data from user interactions. Specifically:

• We DO use: De-identified patterns, common questions, and successful research approaches to improve AI recommendations
• We DO NOT use: Your personal information, identifiable research content, or private communications for AI training
• California users under 18: Use of your data for AI training is opt-in only. You can disable this in your privacy settings.

Third-Party AI Services

Our AI Research Mentor may use third-party AI services (such as large language models). These providers have their own terms and privacy policies. We select providers carefully and require them to protect your data, but we cannot control their practices. By using the AI Research Mentor, you acknowledge this limitation.

6. Publishing in the Proceedings

Submission Guidelines

To submit research to the Proceedings of the Society of Teen Scientists:

• You must be an active SoTS member
• Your research must be your own original work (or properly attributed)
• You must follow our submission formatting guidelines
• You must disclose any conflicts of interest or funding sources
• You must acknowledge collaborators appropriately

Types of Publications

Research Reports:

• Non-peer-reviewed preprints of ongoing or completed research
• Published quickly (typically within 2 weeks of submission)
• Undergo basic screening for plagiarism and formatting
• May be updated or revised by the author

Essays:

• Op-eds, introductions to research techniques, perspectives on science
• Editorial review for clarity and appropriateness
• Published within 3-4 weeks of submission

Editorial Rights and Content Moderation

SoTS reserves the right to:

• Review submissions: Screen all submissions for plagiarism, formatting compliance, and appropriateness
• Request revisions: Ask you to revise submissions for formatting, clarity, or to address concerns
• Reject submissions: Decline to publish submissions that violate our policies or standards
• Remove published content: Retract or remove publications that violate our Terms, contain plagiarism, or were published in error
• Make technical edits: Correct spelling, grammar, or formatting without changing scientific content

We will NOT: Change the scientific content or conclusions of your research without your permission (except for retractions or corrections as described above).

Public Accessibility

All publications in the Proceedings are publicly accessible, free to read, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). This means:

• Anyone can read your research for free
• Others can share, cite, and build upon your work
• Your work will be indexed by search engines and research databases
• You will always be credited as the author

Attribution and Citation

When others cite your work published in the Proceedings, they should use the following format:

[Author Name]. "[Title]." Proceedings of the Society of Teen Scientists, [Year]. [URL].

7. Safety, Moderation, and Reporting

Our Commitment to Safety

SoTS is committed to providing a safe environment for teenage users. We implement multiple safety measures:

• Age verification for all users
• Content moderation by trained staff
• Automated screening for inappropriate content
• Clear reporting mechanisms for safety concerns
• Cooperation with law enforcement when necessary

Content Moderation

We moderate content through:

• Automated screening: AI systems scan for prohibited content, plagiarism, and policy violations
• Human review: Trained moderators review flagged content and user reports
• Community reporting: Users can report violations for review

How to Report Violations or Safety Concerns

We take all reports seriously and will investigate promptly. We aim to respond within 24-48 hours for safety concerns, and within 5 business days for other issues.

Cooperation with Law Enforcement

We will cooperate with law enforcement and report to authorities when we become aware of:

• Illegal activity
• Threats of violence or self-harm
• Child exploitation or abuse
• Other serious safety concerns

We may also disclose information to authorities as required by law or to protect the safety of our users.

Adult Supervision and Monitoring

While we provide safety measures, we encourage parents and guardians to:

• Discuss your teen's use of SoTS and online safety
• Review your teen's profile and published content periodically
• Set expectations about appropriate online behavior and research practices
• Contact us with any concerns about your teen's account

Parents and guardians can contact privacy@teenscientists.org to request access to their teen's account information (subject to age-appropriate verification).

8. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

Educational Purpose

SoTS is designed to support and enhance scientific education and research by teenagers. However:

• We do not guarantee outcomes. Use of the Service does not guarantee research success, academic achievement, internships, scholarships, college admission, or any other specific result.
• We are not an accredited educational institution. SoTS does not grant academic credit, degrees, or certifications.
• We are a supplement, not a replacement. The Service is intended to supplement, not replace, formal education and mentorship.

No Guarantee of Opportunities

While we strive to connect members with research opportunities (webinars, events, newsletters), we do not guarantee:

• Access to any specific researcher, institution, or opportunity
• Acceptance to competitive programs or positions
• Responses from researchers or organizations we connect you with
• Availability or continuation of any particular feature or opportunity

Third-Party Opportunities

We may share information about third-party opportunities (internships, competitions, programs). These are provided for informational purposes only. SoTS:

• Does not endorse or guarantee any third-party opportunity
• Is not responsible for third-party selection processes or decisions
• Cannot guarantee the accuracy or availability of third-party information
• Is not liable for your experiences with third-party organizations

"AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" Disclaimer

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

SoTS, Authentic Research Partners LLC, and our directors, officers, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Loss of profits, data, use, or other intangible losses
• Damages resulting from your use or inability to use the Service
• Damages resulting from any conduct or content of third parties
• Damages resulting from unauthorized access to your account or data
• Damages resulting from errors, mistakes, or inaccuracies in content

Maximum Liability: In any case, SoTS's total liability to you for all damages, losses, and causes of action shall not exceed the amount you paid to SoTS in the 12 months preceding the claim (or $100, whichever is greater).

Exception: Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages. In such jurisdictions, the above limitations may not apply to you, and our liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Indemnification

You (and your parent or guardian if you are under 18) agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SoTS, Authentic Research Partners LLC, and our directors, officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another person or entity
• Your Content (including claims of plagiarism or infringement)

What this means: If someone sues SoTS because of something you did (like posting plagiarized content), you (or your parent/guardian) are responsible for defending SoTS and covering any resulting costs.

9. Account Termination

Your Right to Delete Your Account

You may delete your account at any time for any reason. To delete your account:

• Log into your account settings
• Navigate to "Account Settings"
• Click "Delete My Account"
• Follow the prompts to confirm deletion

Effect of Account Deletion:

• Your personal information will be deleted within 30 days (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Your membership will be canceled (no refund for unused portion)
• You will lose access to all member features immediately
• Your Research Profile Page will be removed or made private (your choice)
• Published research in the Proceedings may remain accessible but can be de-identified upon request

If you are under 18, your parent or guardian can also request account deletion by contacting privacy@teenscientists.org.

SoTS's Right to Terminate Accounts

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms or our community guidelines
• You provide false information or fail age verification
• You engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
• Your payment method fails repeatedly
• You become ineligible (e.g., turn 20 years old)
• We reasonably believe termination is necessary to protect SoTS or other users

Notice and Appeal:

• We will generally provide notice before terminating your account (except for serious violations requiring immediate action)
• You will have the opportunity to appeal termination decisions
• Appeals should be sent to support@teenscientists.org within 14 days
• We will review appeals and provide a decision within 30 days

Effect of Termination

When your account is terminated (by you or by us):

• Your license to use the Service immediately ends
• Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive (intellectual property provisions, disclaimers, limitations of liability, dispute resolution) will continue to apply
• Published research may remain in the Proceedings (subject to your rights described above)
• We may retain certain information as required by law

10. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. However, some consumer protection laws of your jurisdiction may also apply.

Informal Resolution First

Before filing any claim or lawsuit, you agree to try to resolve the dispute informally first.

Contact us at:

• Email: support@teenscientists.org
• Subject: "Dispute Resolution Request"
• Describe the issue and what resolution you seek

We will attempt to resolve the dispute through good-faith negotiation within 60 days. If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, either party may proceed with formal dispute resolution.

Arbitration Agreement (Users 18 and Over)

For users who are 18 years or older:

If informal resolution fails, any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules.

Arbitration Terms:

• Arbitration will be conducted in New Jersey or your home state
• The arbitrator's decision will be binding and final
• Each party pays their own attorneys' fees unless the arbitrator decides otherwise
• Small claims court option: You may bring claims in small claims court if they qualify

Special Protections for Minors (Under 18)

For users under 18 years old:

Recognizing that minors require additional legal protections, we provide alternatives to mandatory arbitration:

• Parental/Guardian Involvement: Any dispute involving a user under 18 must include the minor's parent or legal guardian
• Choice of Forum: Parents/guardians may choose between:
  • Arbitration (as described above)
  • Mediation through a neutral third party
  • Filing a lawsuit in a court of competent jurisdiction (New Jersey or your home state)
• Cost Protection: If the parent/guardian chooses arbitration or mediation, SoTS will pay the filing fees for claims under $10,000
• No Waiver of Rights: Nothing in these Terms waives any statutory rights or protections available to minors under applicable law

Class Action Waiver

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW: You agree that any arbitration or legal proceeding shall be conducted on an individual basis and not as a class action, collective action, or representative action.

Exception for Minors: This class action waiver does not apply to users under 18 if prohibited by applicable state law. Parents/guardians of minor users retain any rights to participate in class actions as permitted by law.

Venue for Litigation

If a dispute is not resolved through arbitration or mediation, any lawsuit must be filed in the state or federal courts located in Mercer County, New Jersey, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts.

Exception: If you are a minor or if your jurisdiction's laws provide you with the right to sue in your home jurisdiction, you may bring suit there instead.

Time Limit for Claims

You must bring any claim arising from or relating to these Terms or the Service within one (1) year after the claim arises. After one year, the claim is permanently barred.

Exception: This time limit is extended to two (2) years for users who are minors at the time the claim arises, or as otherwise required by applicable law.

11. Changes to These Terms

How We Update These Terms

We may update these Terms 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 these Terms
• For material changes, we will notify you by:
  • Email to your registered email address
  • Prominent notice on the Service
  • In-app notification when you next log in
• You will receive at least 30 days' notice before material changes take effect

Your Options When Terms Change

When we notify you of material changes, you have options:

• Accept the changes: Continue using the Service (constitutes acceptance of the new Terms)
• Reject the changes: Delete your account within 30 days of notice to avoid being bound by the new Terms
  • If you delete within this window, we will refund any prepaid fees for unused service

Additional Protections for Minors

For material changes affecting users under 18:

• We will notify both the user and the parent/guardian (if we have parent contact information)
• For EU/UK/Switzerland users ages 13-15, we will re-obtain parental consent for material changes
• Parents may request account deletion and a refund if they disagree with the changes

Review These Terms Regularly

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically. Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and SoTS regarding your use of the Service. They supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of SoTS.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or by operation of law.

Force Majeure

SoTS is not liable for any failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, or internet or utility failures.

Relationship of the Parties

These Terms do not create any partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship between you and SoTS. You have no authority to bind SoTS or make commitments on our behalf.

Third-Party Beneficiaries

These Terms are for the benefit of you and SoTS only. They do not create any third-party beneficiary rights except as explicitly stated.

Notice Requirements

Notices to You: We may provide notices to you via email to your registered email address, by posting on the Service, or by other reasonable means. You are responsible for keeping your contact information current.

Notices to Us: Legal notices to SoTS must be sent via email to support@teenscientists.org or via postal mail to:

Society of Teen Scientists
c/o Authentic Research Partners LLC
475 Wall Street
Princeton, NJ 08540

Interpretation

The section headings in these Terms are for convenience only and have no legal effect. Use of "including" means "including but not limited to."