Over the past several years, there has been increasing recognition in federal science organizations and funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation, that more research scientists should be directly involved in education and public outreach. Studies on teacher professional development projects designed to increase diversity in the sciences provide evidence that direct interaction of participants with research scientists is an important predictor of successful outcomes. However, most professional reward systems of tenure and promotion do not sufficiently encourage research scientist engagement.

In 1997, the National Science Board took a critical step in fostering cultural change in the scientific community by requiring explicit consideration of the broader impacts of research in every research proposal. The Broader Impacts Statement has catalyzed a dramatic shift in expectations within the NSF community. All scientists who create proposals requesting NSF funding are aware of the necessity to address the broader impacts of their research, even if it is just to ensure that their proposals will meet with success in a review panel. Still, many scientific specialists are unfamiliar with the best practices that can inform a successful broader impact effort, particularly in education and public outreach. NSF recently created a list of representative activities that, “when successfully incorporated in a project description, seeks to help reviewers and NSF program staff address the broader impacts criterion in the review and decision process.”

Broader Impacts Toolbox – compiled by Diandra Leslie-Perlecky, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Public Attitudes and Understanding – Science and Engineering Indicators 2008, National Science Board