Founded in 1923, the National Research Council (CNR) is the largest public research institution in Italy. IRPPS is an interdisciplinary research institute of the CNR conducting studies on social policies and welfare systems, education, creation/access/dissemination of knowledge and information technology, demographic and migration issues. In particular, the Research Unit ‘Social Studies on Science, Education, Communication’ aims to understand and enhance relationships between science, politics and society, combining science and society studies in the following fields: evidence and decision-making processes in the interaction between science, society and politics; science communication and scientific community; representations of international migrations and representations of migrants in textbooks; science teaching and participation in the scientific debate; scientific popularization and participatory models. Among the transversal elements, the use of participatory methodologies to involve various societal actors in these research activities.