Broader Impacts

Integrating research and education is an important aspect of NSF's Broader Impacts review criterion. Research projects that have successfully demonstrated broader impacts have commonly developed strong collaborations and partnerships among researchers, educators and students; have proactively engaged target audiences; and have demonstrated impacts on these audiences. The list below provides examples of successful partnerships, as well as tips on assessment and dissemination.

• Advice from NSF about Broader Impacts review criteria
• Merit Review Broader Impacts Criterion: July 2007, Representative Activities (pdf file)
• Merit Review Broader Impacts Criterion--a slightly expanded version.
• Broader Impacts Showcase--American Chemical Society, Fall 2005
• Posters from the ACS Broader Impacts Showcase
• Office of Polar Programs (OPP) Advisory Committee - Working Group on Implementation of Review - Criterion 2
• Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity at the University of North Texas, maintained by Bob Frodeman; numerous links to articles, policy statements, and examples.
• AGU session addressing NSF review criteria for broader impacts of research projects:
  The session "Much Ado About Criterion Two" convened by Susan Avery (University of Colorado) at the 2002 Spring meeting of the American Geophysical Union featured a panel discussion with Joe Bordogna, Jarvis Moyers, and Mike Mayhew from NSF. The speakers focused on NSF's role as an agency that integrates research and education, its goals in revising the proposal review criteria, and a discussion of how the community is responding.
• NRC workshop supports development of education activities in Biocomplexity:
  A workshop "Integrating Education in Biocomplexity Research" held in April , 2002 sought to assist PIs in the NSF Biocomplexity program in integrating education and research and in communicating more effectively with the public about the nature and significance of research in this area. This site contains Tips on Partnering and Tips on Assessment and Dissemination to assist research projects in achieving their Broader Impacts goals.
• Partnerships in Paleontology: Involving Students and the Public in Collaborative Research.
  Symposium sponsored by the Paleontological Society, GSA 2001 Annual Meeting. Speakers covered topics such as student-scientist partnerships, resource management, and community involvement. Abstracts and some presentations are available for download.
• AGU session on roles and partnerships in support of K-14 education:
  The session "AGU Scientists' Roles and Partnerships in Support of K-14 Education and Public Outreach" convened by Roberta Johnson (UCAR) and Cherrie Morrow (Space Science Institute) at the 2001 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union featured examples of the roles that AGU members and their institutions are playing in projects ranging from the development of multimedia education products to working directly with students on research.
• Earth System Education Partnerships with Research Institutions (http://www.usra.edu/esse/ncar/ - this link may not work, it is for archival purposes):
  This workshop held at NCAR in January 2001, brought together leaders in Earth system education with NCAR researchers to define the needs of and create the foundation for an Earth system education collaborative of educators and scientists that works with research institutions on a long term basis to leverage institutional capabilities for the benefit of SMET education and science literacy broadly defined.
• [link http://www.cosee.net/ 'COSEE Report: Ocean Sciences plan for centers of oceanographic education: ']
  Leaders in oceanography research and education met in May, 2000 and detailed their recommendations for a nationally coordinated effort to promote Ocean Sciences education for the benefit of society.
• Making a Broader Impact: Geoscience Education, Public Outreach, and Criterion 2
  Report of the 2005 workshop that brought together experts in education and public outreach to discuss how to best support the science research community.
• The Broader Impacts Toolbox Workshop: Helping Researchers Effectively Meet the National Science Foundation's Broader Impacts Criterion
• Broader Impacts: What Every Busy Scientists Needs to Know about the Fall 2004 AGU Meeting
  Check out:
  • Session OS 21D
  • Session OS 22A
  • Session OS 23A
• The Oceanography Society - Education and Public Outreach: A Guide for Scientists
• Grant-related Broader Impact Opportunities for Involvement in Practicing Teacher Professional Development -- Created by Jennifer L. B. Anderson, Ph.D., SERC, Carleton College