Solution

Following a tender process, EFSA selected and appointed SciencePOD as the official supplier for Plain Language Summaries (PLS). In addition to SciencePOD’s ability to create accurate and engaging content, SciencePOD’s cloud-based content creation workflow platform and readily available network of content creators with subject matter expertise, ensured that PLS could be produced concurrently and be ready to publish alongside comprehensive scientific outputs published by EFSA’s scientific officers in the EFSA Journal.  

In advance of content creation, SciencePOD proposed an EFSA project dedicated team, including a Project Manager, writers, editors, graphic designers and proofreaders. The proposed team belongs to SciencePOD’s global network of expert, pre-vetted content creators. EFSA approved the team allocated to the PLS creation. 

The team works from original research outputs published in the EFSA Journal, these can range from 50,000 to 100,000 words, and are condensed into 1,000- to 1,500-word Plain Language Summaries. Working with the EFSA Journal team, SciencePOD designed templates for three different types of PLS: 

• Text only PLS  
• Graphical PLS (represents concepts and data visually) 
• Complex PLS (includes both text and a graphic)  

In addition, SciencePOD also produces 250-word lay summaries aimed at the public. 

PLS templates facilitate standardisation in the final summaries: 

• They present scientific information and key messages in a predictable, logical order and in easy-to-understand language  
• The PLS are free of jargon and avoid using abbreviations  
• When scientific or technical terms feature in the document, they are explained in a glossary  
• EFSA branding is integrated into the templates