Agreement to the Policy

By accessing or using any of our Sites, you agree to be bound by all of the Site’s terms and conditions.  These terms and conditions include this Privacy Policy.   If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, please do not access or use any of our Sites.

 

Use of your Personal Information

Cornerstones of Science collects and uses your personal information to operate the Cornerstones of Science website and deliver the services you have requested. Cornerstones of Science also uses your personally identifiable information to inform you of other services available from Cornerstones of Science.

Cornerstones of Science may also contact you to conduct research through surveys or other tools to gather your opinion of current services or of potential new services that may be offered. Cornerstones of Science does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties.

Cornerstones of Science may share data with trusted partners to help us perform statistical analysis, send you e-mail or postal mail or provide customer support.  All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to Cornerstones of Science, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.

Cornerstones of Science does not use or sensitive personal information, such as race, religion, or political affiliations, without your explicit consent. Cornerstones of Science keeps track of the websites and pages our customers visit within Cornerstones of Science, in order to determine what Cornerstones of Science services are the most popular.

Cornerstones of Science websites will disclose your personal information, without notice, only if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on Cornerstones of Science or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of Cornerstones of Science; and, (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of Cornerstones of Science, or the public.

If you choose to provide us with personal information, through such methods as completing a form or sending us an email, we will use that information to respond to your message and to help us get you the information or services you have requested.

Some of our Web sites may ask visitors who request specific information to fill out a registration form. Other information collected at Web sites through questionnaires, feedback forms or other means, enables us to determine visitors’ interests, with the goal of providing better service to our visitors.

 

Use of Cookies

The Cornerstones of Science website may use “cookies” to help you personalize your online experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you. One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save you time.

The purpose of a cookie is to tell the web server that you have returned to a specific page. For example, if you personalize Cornerstones of Science pages, or register with Cornerstones of Science site or services, a cookie helps Cornerstones of Science to recall your specific information on subsequent visits.

When you return to the same Cornerstones of Science website, the information you previously provided can be retrieved, so you can easily use the Cornerstones of Science features that you customized. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the Cornerstones of Science services or websites you visit.

 

Cultural Sensitivity Statement

Cornerstones of Science is a non-denominational, non-partisan public charity that welcomes all cultures and religions to participate in our programs and activities. We are guided by sensitivity and respect for others, embracing a common goal of inspiring, engaging, and encouraging youth of all backgrounds to be part of the Cornerstones of Science community and embrace the wonders of science.

 

Types of Information We Collect

We collect Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) and Non-Personally Identifiable Information (“Non-PII”) to facilitate the operation, funding, and management of Cornerstones of Science programs.

 

Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”):

This refers to information that lets us know the specifics of who a person is.  It includes a first and last name, title, mailing address (including zip code), email address, phone number, and, to facilitate certain transactions, credit card information.

 

Non-Personally Identifiable Information (“Non-PII”): 

This refers to information that does not by itself identify any specific person.  Through the use of cookie technology or otherwise, we may track and collect Non-PII about your computer and software when you visit one of our Sites.  This information may include:  (i) your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address; (ii) your domain server; (iii) your type of computer; (iv) your type of web browser; (v) your access times; and (vi) the web sites you came from and navigate to next.

This information is anonymous information that does not personally identify you.  For more information on cookies, see below.

 

Collection and Use of PII

We only collect PII when you provide it to us. You may provide certain PII to us when you: (a) register for any Cornerstones of Science program or event; (b) subscribe to our newsletter; (c) send e-mail messages, submit forms, or transmit other information by telephone or letter; (d) visit other points on the Sites that state that such information is being collected; or, (e) attend a Cornerstones of Science event or a Cornerstones of Science affiliate or operational partner activity.

When you engage in certain activities on any of our Sites, we may ask you to provide PII by filling out and submitting an online form. Depending upon the activity, some of the PII may be mandatory and some may be voluntary.  If you do not provide the mandatory PII with respect to a particular activity, you or your child will not be able to engage in that activity.

By entering personal information into Cornerstones of Science Sites you agree to allow Cornerstones of Science to collect, use, and disclose the information for the management of Cornerstones of Science programs and efforts, as well as to communicate with you about Cornerstones of Science programs and efforts. Cornerstones of Science sometimes uses vendors to help manage programs, efforts, and communications, and such vendors may have temporary access to this information strictly for the conduct of Cornerstones of Science programs or activities under the same standards of privacy and security as Cornerstones of Science staff.

We will primarily use PII to provide our services, as required by our agreements with you. We will also use PII to analyze and enhance the operation of our Sites, improve our marketing and promotional efforts, statistically analyze use of our Sites, improve our product and service offerings, gather information, and customize our Sites’ content, layout, and services, often with the assistance of our vendors.  We may also use PII to resolve disputes, troubleshoot problems and enforce our Privacy Policy.

 

Collection and Use of Non-PII

We, or entities that provide direct service to us, may track and collect Non-PII about your computer and software when you visit a Site.  This may be done at different places on that Site in several ways, including through the use of cookie technology or through other means.

We will primarily use Non-PII to; analyze and enhance the operation of our Sites, improve our marketing and promotional efforts, statistically analyze use, improve our product and service-offerings, gather demographic information, customize and improve our Sites’ content, layout, and services, diagnose problems with our servers, software, and administer our Sites, often with the assistance of our vendors.

 

How we Share Information

We do not rent or sell PII or Non-PII to others. We may share PII and Non-PII with vendors, affiliates, services providers, and other third parties (collectively, “Service Providers”) who are acting on our behalf to help operate our Site, handle communications, conduct Cornerstones of Science programs, or complete transactions you request.

Any Service Provider who has access to PII is required to protect this information in a manner that is consistent with this Privacy Policy.  Any Service Provider who has access to PII may not use it for any purpose other than to carry out the services they are performing for Cornerstones of Science.

Except as otherwise provided in this Privacy Policy, we will keep your PII private and will not share it with third parties, unless such disclosure is necessary to: (a) comply with the law or legal process served on us; (b) provide you the products, services and/or information that you may have requested; (c) protect our rights or property; (d) enforce our rights; (e) protect the interests of users of the Site or any other person; (f) operate or conduct maintenance and repair of our equipment; (g) detect, prevent and/or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues, as authorized by law; and/or, (h) otherwise comply with applicable laws.

 

Your Choices on the Collection and Use of Information

We may, from time to time, send you e-mails regarding our programs and services.  Also, you have choices with respect to cookies, as described below. By modifying your browser preferences, you generally have the choice to accept all cookies, to be notified when a cookie is set, or to reject all cookies. If you choose to reject all cookies, some parts of our Sites may not work properly.

 

How We Protect Information

We use current industry standard, security measures to protect your PII.  Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.   While we strive to protect your PII, you acknowledge that: (a) there are security and privacy limitations of the Internet that are beyond our control; (b) the security, integrity, and privacy of any and all information and data exchanged between you and us through our Sites cannot be guaranteed; and, (c) any such information and data may be viewed or tampered with in transit by a third party.

 

Privacy Policies of Third-Party Sites

We may maintain links to other web sites on our Sites. Links to sponsoring organizations and libraries are examples of these links. Except as otherwise discussed in this Privacy Policy, this document only addresses the use and disclosure of information we collect from you. Other sites accessible through our Site have their own privacy policies and data collection use, and disclosure practices.  Please consult each site’s privacy policy. We are not responsible for the policies or practices of third parties.

We may authorize links to any part of one or more of our Sites who wish to help extend our mission. We ask that you contact us to let us know of your intentions to link to one or more of our Sites, and indicate the purpose of the link. No link may present or display a product or activity in a way that states or implies endorsement by Cornerstones of Science. Cornerstones of Science does not endorse any commercial organizations, candidates for elected office, or products.

On a case-by-case basis, we will consider requests from groups or persons to out-link to their web sites. Cornerstones of Science will grant such requests only where it is determined that such links will clearly support our mission and where we have concluded that such links will not in any way jeopardize our reputation, independence, objectivity, or mission.

From time to time, Cornerstones of Science may unilaterally decide to out-link to private, commercial, or other web sites. The same criteria described above will apply. Cornerstones of Science reserves the right to remove any such links at any time.

 

Changes to the Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time.  Such changes, modifications, additions, or deletions shall be effective immediately upon notice thereof, which may be given by means including, but not limited to, posting the revised Privacy Policy at any of our Sites. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review the Site you are using and this Policy periodically, and to be aware of any modifications.  Your continued use of a Site after any such modifications will constitute your; (a) acknowledgment of any modified Policy; and (b) agreement to abide and be bound by any modified Policy. To the extent that any modifications to this Policy materially alters how Cornerstones of Science will use information collected under prior version of the Policy, Cornerstones of Science will provide you notice by email using your email on file, and where required by law, will obtain your consent.

 

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of any of our Sites, or your dealings with any of our Sites, please contact us via our Contact Us links or by sending a letter to:

Cornerstones of Science

PO Box 995

Brunswick, Maine 04011