The one-page summary

Busy people (a head of department, a funder, a company, a journalist) won't read your paper. They might read one page. A good one-page summary often opens more doors than the paper itself.

What goes on the page

1. A headline: your one-sentence message.
2. The problem, in two or three plain sentences.
3. What you did, briefly.
4. The key result, with one number and one figure.
5. Why it matters to this reader.
6. Limits, honestly, in a sentence.
7. Next steps or what you're asking for (collaboration, data, funding).
8. Contact and a link to the full work.

Write for the reader

A funder cares about impact and feasibility; a company about application; a policymaker about decisions. Keep the same honest result, but change the "why it matters" for each.

Design

• Short paragraphs and clear headings.
• One strong figure, simplified for non-experts.
• Plenty of white space; nothing below 10–11 points.

Policy briefs

Researchers who want to inform government decisions write policy briefs, a similar format focused on options and recommendations. Many universities and think tanks publish guides and templates.

RememberOne page: headline, problem, what you did, one result with a figure, why it matters to this reader, limits, and how to reach you.