Outreach at ICS

Outreach at ICS

The ICS is fully committed to university outreach activities and ensuring public involvement, namely through science-society dialogue. This commitment is articulated by a Outreach Committee and detailed in a multi-annual Outreach Strategy to ensure greater cohesion and effectiveness of the various activities developed in this field, encourage new forms of action and promote stronger links with research and postgraduate training.

The ICS researchers regularly develop a wide range of outreach activities, including instances of knowledge co-production and others aimed at disseminating and discussing research results with non-academic audiences, informing public policies and involving diverse stakeholders and communities. The ICS develops a set of activities aimed at converting scientific research results into instruments to support political decision-making and the actions of other social agents: publication of Policy Briefs, participation in advisory councils, presence at events organised by stakeholders, collaboration with the GovInt Forum for Integrated Governance and with PlanApp. Competence Center for Public Administration Planning, Policies and Foresight.

Although the vast majority of events held at the ICS are open to participation by the general public, the ICS also promotes different initiatives that seek to disseminate knowledge produced by social sciences and involve citizens in debates on topics with a scientific component. The ICS has channels on the main social networks: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn. Several ICS Observatories and Research Groups publish blogs that regularly provide contributions from their researchers, doctoral students and collaborators. The ICS organises occasional consultations with citizens on current topics associated with the research fields of the Research Groups and Observatories. Regularly participates in events such as the European Researchers' Night and Science and Technology Week.

Aware of the importance of disseminating social sciences to students and teachers at pre-university education levels, the ICS annually organises events and internships (Summer at ULisboa, Ciência Viva no Laboratório: Estágios de Ocupação Científica no Verão) that aim to provide experiences research to young people. The ICS participates in events aimed at young people such as Discover ULisboa or Futurália. ICS researchers are also regularly invited to give lectures in primary and secondary schools.

ICS researchers frequently collaborate with social media and initiatives such as 90 Segundos de Ciência and other podcasts.

The ICS strategy for engagement with society and knowledge transfer includes five Observatories, which shape the debate on the main aspects of Portuguese society (aging, family, youth, democracy, environment) and contribute to social innovation and improvement of policy formulation and governance. By promoting partnerships with local and central administration bodies, companies and private non-profit institutions, ICS Observatories produce technical and scientific knowledge oriented towards local and central government policies and stakeholders.

The Observatories carry out regular activities, such as providing databases, carrying out analysis and policy recommendations, publishing research and policy summaries, organising events and training for different audiences and promoting public consultations. Each Observatory has an extensive network of national and international, public and private partners. The five Observatories collaborate on a biennial publication on cross-cutting social issues: the Portugal's Changing Society (Portugal Social em Mudança) collection.