FACULTY RESOURCES
Writing Broader Impacts
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal research agencies now require researchers to justify not only the “intellectual merit” of their proposed research, but also its “broader impacts.” On this webpage, we provide information on broader impacts, related requirements, examples, and suggested institutional and community collaboration opportunities to help OSU researchers establish or expand activities with societally relevant impacts.
Although information provided below is based on current NSF guidance, it is designed as a guide to help researchers better understand and address broader impacts; it does not in any way replace the instructions of a specific solicitation or the applicable NSF Proposal and Award Policy & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Additional Information on Broader Impacts
- About Broader Impacts
NSF's Merit Review Criteria
All NSF grant proposals are evaluated using two merit review criteria:
- Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields;
- Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.
Accomplishing Broader Impacts
Broader impacts for NSF proposals may be accomplished through:
- the research itself,
- activities directly related to specific research projects,
- activities supported by, but complementary to the project.
Societally Relevant Outcomes for NSF
NSF’s list of societally relevant outcomes (broader impacts) includes:
- Full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM);
- Improved STEM education and educator development at any level;
- Increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology;
- Improved well-being of individuals in society;
- Development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce;
- Increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others;
- Improved national security;
- Increased economic competitiveness of the United States;
- Enhanced infrastructure for research and education.
- NSF Merit Review Criteria
NSF’s merit review policy calls for the same five elements to be considered in the review for both intellectual merit and broader impacts:
- What is the potential for the proposed activity to:
- Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (intellectual merit); and
- Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (broader impacts)?
- To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
- Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
- How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
- Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?
Reviewers are thus expected to consider explicitly the qualifications of the proposal team, the evaluation and assessment plans, and the adequacy of the resources in the proposal for broader impacts activities, as well as for intellectual merit.
For more information, see NSF Merit Review.
- What is the potential for the proposed activity to:
- Examples of Broader Impacts
Examples of actual NSF-funded broader impacts can be found in the NSF Broader Impacts Special Report (November 2014). Note that NSF has removed references to examples that had been available in the Guide prior to 2013. This was done to eliminate confusion over use of the document, which was too often viewed by proposers as a prescriptive list of additional requirements instead of as illustrative examples.
- Addressing Broader Impacts in an NSF proposal
The current NSF Proposal and Award Policy & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) provides specific guidance for including broader impacts information in several proposal sections.
Project Summary
The Project Summary must include a statement on the broader impacts of the proposed research – proposals without one will be returned without review. Fastlane has a dedicated text box for this purpose. For other submission methods, you must create a separate section and heading within the document. The statement on broader impacts in the Project Summary “should describe the potential of the proposed activity to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.”
Project Description
The Project Description of each proposal must contain a discussion of the broader impacts of the proposal as a separate section within the narrative. Proposals without this section will be returned without review.
Proposals do not need to address all nine suggested NSF impact categories, but should include as many as are appropriate to a given project. It is recommended, however, that proposals always address the two priorities regarding broadening participation and improving STEM education.
Prior NSF Support
Any entry detailing Prior NSF support (a mandated subsection of the Project Description) received by a PI or Co-PI must discuss – under subheadings – both the intellectual merit and the broader impactsof the prior award. Failure to do so may result in return without review.
- Potential Collaborators for Broader Impacts Activities
Institutional Collaboration Opportunities
4H Youth Development Programs
Oklahoma 4-H is dedicated to helping Oklahoma youth, families and communities reach their full potential. By providing hands-on programming and events in a large variety of projects, 4-H is not only helping youth learn the life skills they need to be the leaders of tomorrow, but it is also teaching its members they can lead today and can make tangible, significant changes in their clubs, their communities, their state and their world.
Contact: Jeff Sallee, 4H Youth Development Programs
jeff.sallee@okstate.edu 405-744-8885Center for Research in STEM Teaching and Learning (CRSTL)
CRSTL strives to be a hub for research on teaching and learning in Oklahoma and across the science and mathematics disciplines. We welcome faculty cohorts from STEM fields interested in a safe place for creating and defining innovative ideas for engaging educational programs.Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OK-LSAMP)
Oklahoma State University has served as the lead institution in the NSF-funded Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OK-LSAMP) for more than twenty years and has played a significant role in creating a pipeline of quality students for undergraduate and graduate STEM programs in Oklahoma and the nation.
Contact: Brenda Morales, Director
brenda.morales@okstate.edu 405-744-6710Oklahoma State University Museum of Art
OSU Museum of Art is a teaching museum, passionately committed to providing opportunities for students to experience art through exhibitions and programs that enhance the academic mission of the university. In its galleries on campus and in the community, the OSU Museum of Art seeks to engage audiences with dynamic programs and access to a growing collection of original art that serves as a resource for the study of art and its history by the campus, community, and the people of Oklahoma.
Contact: Victoria Berry, Director
victoria.berry@okstate.edu 405-744-2780Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research
The Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research at OSU has long been a national leader and innovator in scholar development and, more recently, undergraduate research. The office enhances undergraduate opportunity, encourages student-faculty mentoring, and promotes retention through scholarship/fellowship success, undergraduate research, international experience, and individual/institutional recognition.
Contact: Jessica Sullins, Director
jessica.sullins@okstate.edu 405-744-7313Science Café
Science Café OSU is a monthly event that highlights interesting, relevant, and current science research. Each Science Café features a brief presentation by a scientist(s), followed by discussion and questions. Refreshments are provided, and Science Cafés are free and open to the public. No science background is assumed or required. Science Café OSU is sponsored by the OSU Chapter of Sigma Xi, the OSU Library, and the Office of the Vice President for Research at OSU. Science Cafés take place across the country and provide an opportunity for scientists and the public to meet in a casual setting for discussion.
Contact: Whitney Vitale, Coordinator 405-744-7142; Hui-Fen Chang, Coordinator 405-744-5317S-STEM: Broadening Opportunities for Biologists
A National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholarship Program at OSU that provides financial, academic, and professional development support to undergraduate students transferring from a two-year school and majoring in biological science, zoology, or physiology.Community Collaboration Opportunities
Stillwater Public Library
The Stillwater library provides educational resources for all ages and pursuits and serves the community as a reliable technology and information center.
Contact: Stacy DeLano, Library Director
sdelano@stillwater.org 405-372-3633 x8124Stillwater Public Schools
Stillwater Schools work with many OSU faculty and staff to support hands-on, inquiry-based activities for pre-K - 12 students in conjunction with STEM curricula and classrooms. This includes High School summer interns, field trips, after-school programs, science modules, and other educational and research initiatives.
Contact: Marc Moore, Superintendentmmoore@stillwaterschools.com 405-533-6300
For more information and assistance, please contact Dr. Nani Pybus.