CIS is a not-for-profit research centre that develops research, research-based intervention and scientific training in psychology, focusing on social and organizational psychology within the framework of the social sciences. It is recognized by the Portuguese national science foundation (FCT - www.fct.mctes.pt) as a Unit of R&D, and has the status of an associated research unit of the Lisbon University Institute (ISCTE – www.iscte.pt). It is closely linked to the Department of Social and Organizational Psychology of ISCTE (DEPSO - www.dpso.iscte.pt), and its Laboratory of Social and Organizational Psychology (LAPSO).

Founded in 1989, CIS has over 60 researchers, and is still growing. This gives it a critical mass to make it, a centre of reference in several areas at the national (e.g., gender relations, organizational psychology, community psychology) and international level (e.g., risk perception, emotions, intergroup relations, social cognition, social justice). CIS has been highly successful in attracting public and private funding for research and had 25 funded projects running by the end of 2006 (including 11 FCT-funded and 3 EU-funded). CIS also actively engages in social intervention with policymakers, the community and business, and its members intervene in public and expert debates on a number of social issues.

CIS gives particular emphasis to the training of young researchers in the graduate, masters and doctoral programmes of DEPSO. Students are involved in research already at the undergraduate level post-graduate students are integrated as researchers in the Centres’ research projects and in international networks with leading experts of their respective areas. Finally, post-doctoral researchers are supported in the development of autonomous research lines and have optimal conditions to start their scientific careers.