This Advanced Training Course marks the onset of the third year, where SAPIENS Early Stage Researchers (ESRs/PhDs) have already delved deep into their designated research topics. To date, a significant majority of ESRs have produced research outputs and findings or acquired a significant amount of niche knowledge. Given that such knowledge holds immense potential to enhance sustainable public procurement practices, it’s crucial for it to reach a broader audience, including decision-makers. Therefore, in this ATC, 14 SAPIENS ESRs, along with 13 guest PhD students from other universities, convened to hear experts from industry, academia, and government discuss the dissemination of research beyond university campuses and scientific conferences.

The first day was co-hosted by the SAPIENS Network, Danish Chamber of Commerce and the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen. It  centered on the Triple Helix Potential of Government, Industry, and Academia, with insightful presentations from experts representing all three sectors. The event was chaired by Associate professor Marta Andhov and Morten Jung from Danish Chamber of Commerce. Industry perspectives were shared by Niels-Christian Holt VP, Case Pricing & Bid Mgmt, Nuuday and Alexander Robert Campbell  Senior Sustainability Consultant, TDC, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in procurement. Martin Trybus highlighted academia’s role and the mission of the SAPIENS Network and Jesper Langkjær who is chairman of IKA – the association of public purchasers in Denmark gave the perspective of public sector mainly from public buyers angle. The day concluded with a roundtable discussion on sustainability in public procurement.

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Day 2 opened the course to the public, featuring panel discussions and workshops.

Session 1 started the discussion on how to look at one’s Ph.D. and research in the context of your future career. What impact can PhD research have on your career path, what outreach can it have, and what doors might it open? The audience heard from 3 professionals Alexandra Andhov, Roxana Vornicu, and Carsten Hansen who, throughout their careers, continuously wear multiple hats: academic, practising lawyer, consultant, and manager in an international organisation. They all step in and out of their academic career at different times. What did they learn? What is their advice on making the most of your PhD research? This and more were addressed in the first session.

Session 2 took the form of a workshop on How to Write a Policy Brief. The policy impact and public attention of research results require short, concise and timely communication to relevant stakeholders among policymakers, press media, the general public etc. In a 2-hour workshop, participants worked on the communication of research findings to some of these stakeholder groups in the form of policy briefs. Topics of the workshop included:

• Identifying relevant angles and perspectives of the research to communicate to policymakers, media, etc.
• Identification of target stakeholders to receive and use the communication
• Writing style for effective research communication to policymakers
• Balancing short and relevant communication versus scientific validity and limitations

Session 3 focused on Research Dissemination. Blog Posts, Bios, and Outreach in the Bag: How to communicate and disseminate your research outside of academia from a marketing professional. You’ve written a great research paper or policy brief, but now you need to share it with the world outside of your academic bubble. The public deserves to know how their lives could/will be changed by your research. For them to care, you must change the angle, cut the jargon, and make it simple for them to understand and share.

In this 2-hour session, Ayanna Coleman introduced participants to types of blog post templates they can use to quickly transform an academic article into a general public interest piece. She also provided them with reminders they could use to increase the viral nature of their piece, shared tools to make their subject lines pop and how to write clearly for any audience, and gave them resources to connect their piece with a broader audience once it’s published.

Session 4 Engaging with Journalists and Finding stories in your research.

This workshop introduced useful rhetorical tools. Emil Tarp Vang showed some basic rhetorical ideas to get the participants thinking about the message and audience. He also introduced basic principles of storytelling as tools to convey complicated messages to outsiders. The main argument focused on the fact that the participants must tell the story of their research everywhere they go and might as well make it a good one.

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Day 3 featured 3 roundtables providing national (Danish), regional (European), and international perspectives on working with research and academia. Firstly we discussed how Danish stakeholders collaborate with academia, and what are the opportunities and challenges. Next, we focused on what is the interest of a “think tank” and a lobbying group in research. How do they work similarly/ differently with researchers? Feedback from a real-life policy environment on how to ensure the policy impact of PhDs research has been given. The roundtable provided feedback on the submitted participants’ materials.

Panel 4 aimed to answer what do an International organisation, NGO, and international bank have in common regarding working with research. How do they interact with research differently? Feedback has been provided from real-life experts who work with researchers. The roundtable will reflect on providing feedback on the submitted participants’ materials.

The panellists provided valuable perspectives on effective engagement and the challenges faced in these collaborations.

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Day 4 commenced with project updates and a bi-annual Project Meeting, fostering constructive dialogue among the SAPIENS ESRs and experts. The day concluded with a team-building activity focused on sustainability and weaving, underscoring the power of collective effort in achieving shared goals.

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Participants appreciated the practical and interactive format of the sessions, finding them more engaging than traditional lectures. They valued the hands-on advice provided, which they could directly implement in their research. The first session with industry experts was particularly motivating and inspiring, emphasizing the power of storytelling and engagement. The policy brief workshop was highlighted as a valuable tool for concise communication of research findings. The interactive format of the workshops was well-received, making the day-long sessions both enjoyable and informative. The different panels complemented each other, providing a comprehensive view of the topics discussed. External PhDs gained insights into narrative building and the potential for publicizing parts of their projects. They also appreciated learning about the interest journalists have in research. The takeaway on making research go viral was particularly valued. The segment on one-minute pitching prompted participants to think differently about their research. The discussion on balancing academia with other responsibilities resonated with many, reassuring them that it’s a common challenge. Hearing about the real stories and struggles of academics was insightful and relatable for all. Overall, participants found the training to be practical, informative, and inspiring, providing them with actionable advice for their research pursuits.