Nineteen researchers and members of IN2PAST’s science management and communication team took part in the workshop ‘How to Write a Policy Brief?’, organised by PLANAPP – Centro de Planeamento e Avaliação de Políticas Públicas (centre for the planning and evaluation of public policies), at the request of our associate laboratory.

Held at the NOVA FCSH premises on Avenida de Berna, in Lisbon, on the afternoon of June 2, the session was organised as part of the preparation of IN2PAST’s first annual public policy report, to be presented by the end of 2025. The goal was to equip researchers and managers with the skills needed to transform scientific and technical knowledge into clear, concise and action-oriented policy documents.

After briefly contextualising the workshop in terms of PLANAPP’s wider mission and activities, trainers Susana Sobral, Teresa Montez and Bruno Helena involved the participants in practical speed dating exercises with role playing, group analysis of policy briefs, and discussion of the conclusions among everyone.

The exercises, lasting almost three hours in total, led to the identification and listing of the main aspects to take into account when producing a policy brief, including structure, presentation, content, language and tone, common mistakes to avoid and which elements to favour.

Researchers and managers from four of the seven research centres of the associate laboratory took part in this workshop: IHC – Institute of Contemporary History, CRIA – Centre for Research in Anthropology, IHA – Institute of Art History, and HERCULES Laboratory – Cultural Heritage, Studies and Safeguard.