Nsf broader impacts

Similarly, when a proposal is funded, the annual and final project reports should address progress in all activities of the project, including any activities intended to address the broader impacts criterion. Every nsf grant has the potential to not only advance knowledge, but benefit society -- what we call broader impacts. Ann orel of uc davis gave an example of a woman she knew who was applying for her first nsf grant.

Merit review principles help explain nsfs overall mission and describe concepts that the foundation considers when ascertaining progress toward its mission as outlined in the nsf strategic plan. Nsf is exploring ways in which it may support assessment and evaluation at a higher level, e. These broader impacts activities may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the the america competes reauthorization act of 2010 and the nsf strategic plan emphasize the value of broader impacts of scientific research, beyond the intrinsic importance of advancing scientific knowledge.

How does this relate to the second review element regarding creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? Nsf does not want to provide undue influence to proposers regarding what their likely broader impacts activities might be or imply that the exemplary activities are in any way proscriptive. Regardless of whether or not a proposed project has the potential to be transformative, nsf projects should be of the highest quality, including methods and approaches that are well justified.

In 2013, nsf removed a list of examples that had been available in previous versions of its grant proposal guide. Does this mean that pis will want to lay out plans for assessment of their intellectual merit and broader impacts activities? Organizational support certification addresses a requirement described in section 526 of the america competes reauthorization act of 2010, specifically that there must be evidence of institutional support for the proposals broader impacts activities.

Pis and organizations should understand what the principles are to ensure that their proposed activities align with them and help nsf achieve its goals. S updated merit review es of broader impacts tions for developing a broader impacts ying broader impacts activities in your nsf ces for broader impacts and ial partners for broader impacts questions about broader impacts, or to request assistance with your broader impacts plan,Please contact kate spohr, brdo research outreach specialist. For instance, the center for nanoscale systems at cornell university, which is supported by nsf, devotes about 10% of its budget to broader impacts activities, according to monica plisch, director of education programs for the center.

Mildred dresselhaus of mit says she has heard from many scientists who are unhappy with the broader impacts requirements, and who feel they should be funded based on the quality of their research, not for outreach. The broader impacts section of a proposal could include a description of how the researcher will promote teaching, training, and learning; broaden participation of underrepresented minorities; enhance infrastructure for research and education; disseminate results broadly; or benefit society. Berkeley research main sing broader national science foundation (nsf) and other federal research agencies are increasingly emphasizing the need to justify not only the “intellectual merit” of proposed research, but also its “broader impacts.

For example, if a pi proposed to engage students in a massive open online course (mooc) an approach and evaluate the resulting student learning an outcome, the broader impact could be better understanding how technology can be used to improve stem education. Greg miller of uc davis, who applied for nsf funding recently, also said that the criterion is too vague. Projects find creative ways to broaden participation in science, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to succeed in all fields of science and ting for the r impacts are often intrinsic to fundamental research.

Impacts guiding principles and questions, a publication of the national alliance for broader impacts (nabi), is an excellent overview of broader impacts and is highly that a number of other funding agencies also promote activities related to “broader impacts,” such as programs that promote research translation, societal impact, public understanding of stem (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), education and training of the scientific workforce, and broadening participation in ing to nsf’s grant proposal guide (section ii. Although a project may appear to have the potential to transform knowledge at the time it is being proposed, its not always possible to know which projects will have transformative outcomes. By os an physical society sites|aps|journals|physicscentral|an physical society sitesapsjournalsphysicscentralphysicspublicationsphysical review journalsaps newsphysicsphysics todayother aps publicationsmeetings & eventsmarch meetingapril meetingmeeting calendarabstract submissionarchives of the bulletin of the american physical societypolicies & guidelinesmeeting presentationsprogramseducationinternational affairsphysics outreachwomen in physicsminorities in physicslgbt physicistsindustrial physicshonorsmembershipjoin apsrenew membershipmember directorymy member profilemember servicesaps unitsaps local linkspolicy & advocacyadvocacy dashboardreports & studiesaps statementscontact aps public affairscareers in physicsphysics jobsbecoming a physicistcareer guidancetools for career advisorsstatistical datanewsroomnews & announcementspress releasesvirtual pressroomssocial mediaabout apsmission statementsociety governancesociety historydonate to apsaps jobscontact usbecome a al review journals aps news news updates aps news archive contact aps news physics physics today other aps   |   publications   |   aps news   |   june 2007 (volume 16, number 6)   |   nsf's "broader impacts" criterion gets mixed 2007 (volume 16, number 6).

Cooper suggests that one way to make it easier for scientists to fulfill the broader impacts requirement would be to have established education or outreach programs that individual scientists could join. Proposals without this section will be returned without ’s faq on merit review suggests content that should be included in this section:A well-written broader impacts section should include activities that are clearly described; have a well-justified rationale; and demonstrate creativity or originality, or have a basis in established approaches. This caveat in mind, you can still find the list in this nsf document, “merit review broader impacts criterion: representative activities.

Suggestions for developing a broader impacts plan:Below are four steps that can help in developing a broader impacts plan:Step 1: perform an inventory of internal factors:What are your strengths? Fred cooper, a current nsf program director for theoretical physics, said his personal opinion is that this is a good thing for nsf to do. Consequently, they provide context for the merit review criteria (intellectual merit and broader impacts), to help proposers, reviewers and nsf staff fully understand their intent.