01Principles
SimPHY (“SimPHY”, “we,” “us,” “our”) cares deeply about student privacy. We are committed to making quality STEM education accessible to students and educators across the globe while collecting as little personal information as reasonably necessary to provide our services.
Resources intended for student use are designed to be accessible without requiring students to create an account wherever reasonably possible. When students use SimPHY resources without signing in, we do not intend to collect personally identifiable information from them.
Some resources and features are intended for teachers, educators, institutions, and other authorized users and may require registration. During registration, we seek to collect only the minimum information necessary to provide and operate these services.
User information collected by SimPHY is not sold or rented to third parties for advertising purposes.
By visiting https://simphy.org, using SimPHY software, simulations, applications, or other services offered by SimPHY (collectively, the “Services”), you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
02Intended Use
Child Use
SimPHY simulations and educational resources may be used by students of all ages, including children under 13.
Our student-facing educational resources are designed so that students do not need to create a SimPHY account merely to access or use simulations.
We do not knowingly require children to provide personally identifiable information in order to use student-facing simulations.
If SimPHY introduces a feature that requires an account or the collection of personal information from children, we will implement the safeguards required by applicable law.
Student Use
SimPHY simulations are intended for students in schools, colleges, universities, and other educational settings.
Students do not need to create an account to use SimPHY simulations where the particular resource does not require an account.
Where SimPHY is provided through a school, university, or other educational institution, certain information may be handled through the institution's existing systems, including its Learning Management System (LMS).
03Data Collection
Personally identifiable information may be collected from users who choose to create a SimPHY account or communicate with us.
We may also collect information when users contact SimPHY, request support, participate in surveys, request institutional or enterprise services, purchase a license, or otherwise communicate with us.
We seek to collect only information reasonably necessary to provide our Services.
We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal information such as racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, health conditions, sexual orientation, or biometric information merely for the use of our educational resources.
Non-registered Users and Students
SimPHY does not require students to provide personally identifiable information simply to run a simulation where the simulation is available without registration.
When a simulation is run, SimPHY may collect limited non-personally identifiable technical information, such as the simulation name and version, language, timestamp, device type, browser information, approximate location, referring website, or other technical information necessary to ensure that simulations operate correctly.
This information may be used to understand overall usage of SimPHY simulations, improve our Services, diagnose technical problems, and understand the global reach of our educational resources.
Where such information is collected, we seek to use it in an aggregated or anonymized manner and do not intend it to identify individual students.
Registered Users
For users who create a SimPHY account, we may collect information such as name and email address.
Depending on the service, we may also collect general information such as country, institution or school name, educational role, and information necessary to provide the relevant SimPHY service.
We use this information to operate user accounts, provide technical support, administer licenses, communicate with users about relevant Services, and improve SimPHY.
User information is not used for targeted advertising to students.
Institutional and Enterprise Users
For institutional, enterprise, or licensing services, additional information may be collected to administer the relationship between SimPHY and the organization.
This may include the organization name, organization address, website, license information, authorized-user information, and purchasing or administrative details.
This information is used to issue, maintain, and administer institutional and enterprise services.
LMS Integration
SimPHY may be integrated with an institution's existing Learning Management System (LMS).
Where an institution chooses to integrate SimPHY with its LMS, limited information necessary to provide the integration may be exchanged between the LMS and SimPHY.
This may include information such as a user's name, institutional email address, user identifier, course or institution information, and information necessary to authenticate or provide access to SimPHY.
The information exchanged will depend on the LMS and integration configuration established by the institution.
05Collection of Data from Children
SimPHY's educational resources are used by students of different ages, including children.
Our student-facing simulations are designed to be usable without collecting personally identifiable information from students.
We do not knowingly use children's personal information for advertising, behavioral profiling, or targeted advertising.
If we become aware that personal information belonging to a child has been collected contrary to our practices or applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to investigate and delete such information where appropriate.
If you believe that a child has provided personal information to SimPHY, please contact us at info@simphy.org.
07Third-Party Authentication
SimPHY may support authentication through third-party identity providers or an institution's existing authentication system.
When a user chooses to authenticate through such a service, SimPHY may receive limited information necessary to create or authenticate the user's account.
The information received will depend on the authentication provider and the configuration selected by the user or institution.
08Data Accuracy, Access, and Handling
Authorized SimPHY team members may access personal information when necessary to provide technical support, correct inaccurate information, maintain our Services, or respond to an authorized request.
Users may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their personal information, subject to applicable law and legitimate operational or legal requirements.
Requests may be sent to info@simphy.org.
09Security
SimPHY takes the confidentiality and security of user information seriously.
We employ reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
Transmission of information to SimPHY through our website is generally protected using HTTPS encryption.
Access to personal information is limited to authorized personnel and service providers who require access to perform their responsibilities.
No method of transmitting or storing information can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
10Data Confidentiality and Storage
SimPHY takes reasonable measures to protect personal information and restrict access to authorized personnel and service providers.
Personal information may be stored and processed by SimPHY and by service providers working on our behalf.
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide our Services, fulfill legal or contractual obligations, resolve disputes, maintain security, or otherwise fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.
11Data Retention
When a user requests deletion of their account, SimPHY will remove personal information from active systems where required and where no legal, security, contractual, or legitimate operational reason requires continued retention.
Information may remain temporarily in backups or records maintained for security, disaster recovery, legal compliance, or other legitimate purposes.
12User Interactions and User Provided Content
SimPHY allows users, particularly educators and creators, to create and customize simulations and other educational content.
Users should avoid including unnecessary personal information in simulations, activities, notes, or other content that they choose to share publicly or with other users.
Personal information voluntarily included by a user in publicly shared content may become visible to others.
SimPHY is not responsible for personal information that a user voluntarily includes in content they choose to publish or share.
13Advertising
SimPHY does not sell personal information for advertising purposes.
We do not use student information to create automated advertising profiles or to conduct targeted advertising toward students.
We do not permit third parties to use SimPHY student information to create advertising profiles, conduct behavioral advertising, or target advertisements to students.
14Privacy Policy Changes
SimPHY may modify this Privacy Policy from time to time by posting a revised version on simphy.org with an updated effective date.
If we make material changes to the way we process personal information, we will provide additional notice where required by applicable law.
We encourage users to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
15Disclaimer
The information provided in this Privacy Policy is intended to explain SimPHY's privacy practices and should not be construed as legal advice or as a guarantee of the security of information provided through SimPHY's Services.
SimPHY may provide or integrate its Services through third-party educational platforms, including institutional Learning Management Systems. Those platforms may have their own privacy policies and practices, which also apply to information they independently collect or process.