Guidelines for Writing the Scientific Section of a Final Report (Projects)

Explain your research in simple terms/concepts for members of the public with no scientific background.

Avoid technical jargon and terms used only in your scientific community.

Describe how your research questions and the underlying scientific problem tie into societal challenges and issues (where possible).

Highlight the (potential) mid- to long-term applications outside the scientific area to which your research does or could contribute.

Please provide one figure that visually captures the idea of the project or represents a central result (if available).

I.1. Summary for the general public

I.2. Zusammenfassung für eine breitere Öffentlichkeit

Include data and figures to convey the results of the project.

Reference your own and other’s work, however focussing on the most relevant literature citations.

Unless strictly necessary, avoid lengthy text quotations from existing publications (including your own).

The questions in the individual sections are intended as a guide for writing the report and should not be included in the text.

Use references / links in footnotes to provide evidence regarding outcomes and impacts. 

II.1. Scientific abstract 

Please provide a concise scientific abstract of the project including the results. This section is limited to 1.000 characters (incl. spaces).

II.2. Scientific challenges and development of the research project 

Describe the scientific challenges you encountered in your research.

• Could the project aims be met?
• Which aims could not be met or had to be adapted?
• Which unexpected developments in terms of research paths were encountered during the course of the project?
• How did the challenges change the course of your research and (if so) in what direction?

II.3. Most significant achievements and results of the research project 

• What is - in your opinion - the most important result of the project?
• What are the most innovative aspects of the project?
• How did your research contribute to the advancement of the scientific field(s) with respect to the state of the art, also in terms of methodological applications and relevance within the field and other scientific areas?
• Optional: If the project was interdisciplinary, how did the results of the project contribute to advancements of the involved disciplines and how did the project profit from this interdisciplinarity?
• Are follow-up activities planned? If so, briefly describe these.
• How did this project impact the career development of the project team members?

II.4. (Potential) impact on and benefits for society 

• Do the results have (or have already had) a wider impact on society (e.g. economic, cultural, technological …)?  
• Briefly describe and specify the areas of application.
• Who in society might profit/benefit the most from the results of your research? How can they be addressed?
• Do you plan follow-up knowledge transfer activities?
• Highlight the differences / development of this aspect compared to when you applied for the project (i.e. new ideas developed during the course of the project)