How to prepare an issue of Perspective

Perspective, a 4-page policy brief for reflection and decision support published in English and French

• Each issue is based on the invited authors’ recent published research or expertise.
• Each issue is written by one or more authors, including at least one from CIRAD, who also serves as the corresponding author. The authors are responsible for the content, which does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the affiliated institutions.

What are the advantages for authors from CIRAD and other institutions to publish an issue of Perspective?

• Perspective showcases your results and their implications for decision-makers.
• Issues of Perspective are published online with open-access and benefit by long-term archiving in the Agritrop open repository of CIRAD publications.
• It is a short policy brief that can be highly useful in negotiations, conferences, etc.
• It may place the spotlight on several of your scientific articles.
• It may serve as a basis for evaluations by the French Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (Hcéres): knowledge building, interactions with society.
• It enables you to draw up a formal list of target audiences.

Preparing the editorial blueprint

You will try to identify and fine-tune the idea in discussions with the Editor. You will then jointly draw up a blueprint of the project: see details in the Blueprint section. This blueprint helps clarify the scope of the idea, identify its relevance for target audiences and ensure that it is sound, both scientifically and in terms of expertise.

Inspired authors may also fill in the blueprint form and simultaneously draft the first version of the issue of Perspective.

Writing the text and getting it validated

You should write the text using the blueprint in close collaboration with the Editors: short sentences, simple language while avoiding jargon (no theory, materials and methods).

The completed version, and if necessary the blueprint, are reviewed by one to three people (CIRAD or external) who are selected in agreement with the Editors. Their supportive and constructive opinions should ultimately give rise to the final validated version.

Content and layout: 3,000–3,500 words maximum

• A short catchline (35 words maximum) gives the key message.
• Keywords.
• Lead (80–150 words). Entices people to keep reading, a summary that conveys essential information on the topic and conclusions.
• Title, informative (120 characters maximum).
• Subheadings (level 1), informative. Occasionally level 2 subheadings.
• Main text (1,500–2,000 words) (no footnotes or bibliographical references in the text).
• 1–2 text boxes – optional, on specific points (total < 450 words).
• 1–2 illustrations – optional (curves, charts, photos or tables) with an explanatory title that may be long.
• Box on the institutional setting and the authors’ source publications (100–350 words) (inserted on page 4 of Perspective). Research framework: project, partnerships, etc.
• “A few words about…” section: author biographies (20–50 words per author, depending on their number).
• “A few links” section: short list of references or useful weblinks. Accessible documents or websites mentioned in the text, or important to highlight.

Producing an issue of Perspective

Perspective takes care of the English translation of each issue, or even other languages depending on the target audiences (especially Spanish and Portuguese).

Perspective is formatted and edited as a PDF file. Perspective also arranges for professional printing, depending on your specific needs as an author.

Long-term archiving

CIRAD Scientific Information and Open Science Service (DISCO) assigns a digital object identifier (DOI) to each language version of an issue of Perspective, deposits the publication for open access in the Agritrop open repository of CIRAD publications and in the HAL national open archive via the HAL-CIRAD portal.

Disseminating the e-document (PDF)

• Your own way of disseminating the issue is the most effective: via you and your team. Dissemination via your personal email to target audiences; sharing via social networks, professional networks, blogs and websites, wherever you wish.
• CIRAD: posting a news brief on the CIRAD website, and on CIRAD’s LinkedIn and Twitter pages; institutional internal and external email dissemination.

Disseminating the hardcopy version

• You and your team: in conferences, meetings, negotiations, etc.
• CIRAD Scientific Information and Open Science Service (DISCO): in CIRAD libraries; institutional internal and external dissemination by standard mail.