• We show how your research helps with issues relating to the brain, behaviour, societal developments and fundamental science. It is a way for us to show clearly what science means for society and to build support for research.
• We broaden the public’s understanding of psychology and associated research
• We encourage public involvement
• We make it transparent and understandable how we conduct research
• Scientific research is financed from public resources, and we therefore  give our knowledge and expertise back to society in return

• Greater awareness of your research in society and among potential stakeholders and partners
• Greater visibility of researchers and scientists helps you with grant applications  
• More dialogue with the public and partners can lead to new insights and participation in your research (citizen science)
• Honing your skills, such as the ability to communicate and present clearly

Science communication strengthens our five strategic goals (2023-2027)

1. Building one united institute together
2. Recognition, reward and inspiration
3. Promoting open science
4. A strong discipline as the basis for interdisciplinary working
5. Strengthening translational research

This checklist will help researchers and editors to decide whether their research is ripe for publication. Why do you want to communicate about this research or project?

1. Scientific importance
   Your research provides important/new insights. The research is robustly and solidly conducted, the results are reliable and may already go public. Let us know if there is any important part that is still uncertain.
    
2. Topical importance
   This could be the PhD defence date, a publication in a reputable journal, a public lecture, etc.
    
3. Societal importance
   Such as a crisis, a social debate, an important report, a development in society that the researcher can explain.
    
4. An important prize, grant or subsidy
   You have been awarded an important prize, grant or subsidy for your research. 
    
5. A look behind the scenes of current research 
   In some cases, the research is still ongoing but it is worth reporting on it in advance. For example, because of particular circumstances (location, societal partners, etc.). 
    
6. How big is the ‘Leiden’ contribution?
   Are the main authors still working at our institute or elsewhere at Leiden University? If you or other key authors are now working at another university, we will need to agree who will pick up the news. 
    
7. Does everyone agree that the research should be given publicity now?
   Check with your research partners whether publicity is appropriate at this stage.   

Note: contact the Institute of Psychology editors well in advance, preferably at least two weeks or earlier.

Make strategic choices in good time so that the information, format and tone reach the chosen target groups and have greater appeal for them.

1. What do you want to achieve (impact)?
   For example, the transfer of particular knowledge (informing people about research), a change in attitude (getting the target group to look differently at an issue (only applies to specific research such as lifestyle research that has been commissioned). 
    
2. Who are the target groups?
   For example, journalists from national/ international/regional/specialist/popular media, peers, stakeholders, a diverse lay audience, patient associations, young people, parents, professionals in the field, such as youth welfare, education, etc?
    
3. Do you want to measure the impact of science communication?
   This can be done, for example, with the help of the more than 30 tools in the toolbox of Impact Lab, a collaboration of researchers from Leiden University and Utrecht University).
    
4. Do you want dialogue and interaction with the target groups?
   If the answer is positive, then look at the checklist below to see which means of communication are most appropriate here.

The possible resources are:

1. A news article on universiteitleiden.nl
2. A press release to national, international and regional media; this is only possible following discussion with the central Science Communication Adviser
3. A press release to specialist media (this is possible in discussion with the institute editors news.psy@fsw.leidenuniv.nl )
4. Social media such as LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook. Visuals are especially important with social media. Are images available?
5. A video can be a very attractive format, but is also costly and time-consuming and will therefore be considered extra carefully by the editors.
6. A podcast episode (Leiden Psychology Podcast) or a personal podcast
7. A blog (on the Leiden Psychology Blog or personal blog)
8. Are you or your research group considering your own (free space) website? Contact the editors first for advice and read here more about the process and criteria for a free space website. 

With the above resources, there is only scope for interaction with followers when posting on social media. The researcher has the opportunity to answer questions, but, for constructive and nuanced discussions, social media are unfortunately often not the ideal platforms. To engage with audiences, you should preferably consider an activity such as:

• A lecture, workshop or webinar with interaction, for example in a local community centre, a festival or online
• A complete public event (such as the LIBC public scientific day)

Easy to find

Scientists don’t necessarily need an editorial team to communicate about their research. Many journalists prefer to approach researchers themselves directly rather than first having contact with a press officer. This means that it is important that you can be found easily on internet.

1. Is your profile page good and up to date, and does it have these seo keywords (in Dutch)?
   This makes it easier for journalists and other interested people to find you quickly via Google or other search engines. If you would appreciate some advice, the editors at Psychology offer the profile service to improve your profile page. 
2. Is your research project page up to date? If not, contact webteam.psy@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
3. Present your research in the PhD calendar
   Journalist often look at the PhD calendar on the website to see whether there are any  interesting topics coming up. A title and summary with a lot of jargon are less attractive for a Given their limited time, a professional or a lay person  will not be attracted by a title and summary with a lot of jargon. It is better to provide a public-friendly summary of your PhD dissertation with as little jargon as possible but with a clear research question and conclusion. 
    
4. Who/what do you want to achieve with social media?
   Post important and/or interesting developments in your research on a medium that appeals to you, such as LinkedIn.  Bear in mind that posts can also elicit reactions, so be precise and show integrity. You can read more about this in the 8 golden tips for sociale media and the Leiden University code of confuct for social media (in Dutch).
    
5. If you want to reach a broad public,  explain your research in a way that is engaging and interesting 
   In the interview, try to formulate the most important results in a way that a diverse public of non-experts will be able to understand it. If relevant, tell them what the societal impact or potential impact is; for example, that the research results will help to develop more targeted therapies for young people suffering from depression. Or, for example, that your new statistic models will help make research more reliable, etc. 
    
6. Invite the reader with a catchy title, intro and text
   News articles are generally around 450 to 500 words with an intro of a maximum of 40 words and a catchy and strong title.
   
   Help the editor to make your article/interview accessible, attractive and factually correct. If the editor asks a question you can’t answer, just be honest about it. Science is also about handling uncertainty, and it’s OK for that to be apparent in the article. Provide a PDF or web links of the scientific publication so that readers who are interested can read the publication themselves.