Broader Impacts for NSF Proposals
Our boilerplates and sample text for selected application sections may be used as a starting point for your applications, and should be modified to meet sponsor's requirements and to align with your proposed research plan.
Broader Impacts is one of the NSF merit review criteria and it must be addressed in the Project Summary and the Project Description sections of your proposal to the NSF. To satisfy this criterion, applicants are required to include a statement that encompasses the potential of their research to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes. NSF expects the broader impacts statement to indicate how the outcomes and impact of the proposed research will fulfill the NSF's mission ("to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare; to secure the national defense...").
You may use parts of this boilerplate that are most relevant to your proposal. Refer to our boilerplates on Ensuring Workforce Diversity and on Scientific Outreach Activities for more institutional resources and efforts that are potentially relevant to the broader impacts of your work.
Proposals
Research
My proposed project on [your research topic] will offer new insights and advance our knowledge in this important area, while promoting training and learning through [specify mentoring strategies, see sample activities below]. In addition to providing 'on-the-project' training to young researchers supported on this award, my project will expand the participation of underrepresented groups [e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.] through [provide details on collaborations with faculty/students who are members of underrepresented groups and institutions serving minority students, and participation in RU outreach to the community, and to high school students and teachers]. These efforts will enhance research and education resources on and off campus, such as [xxx] facilities, [xxx] instrumentation, [xxx] collaborative networks and [xxx] domestic/international and private/public partnerships [provide details on all these]. My research findings will be disseminated widely and will improve scientific understanding, methodology/tool development, and scholarly inquiry [specify presentations at scientific meetings, as well as appearances on public broadcast and television program, news articles, other media]. Resulting societal benefits such as [provide details on educational outcomes and potential impact on development of science policy, biomedical workforce, industry and other partnerships, clinical applications and health improvements, and more] will further and broaden the eventual impact of this project.
Instrumentation and Tool/Technology/Method Development
Research projects using this [Instrumentation/Tool/Method/Technology] will offer new insights and advance our knowledge in critical areas [specify applicable areas]. Having biomedical scientists trained to use this [Instrumentation/Tool/Method/Technology] will prepare them for heterogeneous career paths, including academia and industry. 'On-the-project' training at [name of resource center] will be provided to young researchers intending to use this [Instrumentation/Tool/Method/Technology]. This instrument will expand the capacity to perform a range of challenging projects and promote the participation of underrepresented groups [e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.] through [provide details on collaborations with faculty/students who are members of underrepresented groups and institutions serving minority students, and participation in RU outreach to the community, and to high school students and teachers]. This new cutting edge shared resource will enhance research and education on and off campus, such as [name specific] facilities, [name specific] collaborative networks and [name specific] domestic/international and private/public partnerships [provide details on all these]. Research findings obtained on [Instrumentation/Tool/Method/Technology] will be disseminated widely and will improve scientific understanding, methodology/tool development, and scholarly inquiry [select relevant specifics from concrete examples below]. Resulting societal benefits such as [provide details on educational outcomes and potential impact on development of science policy, biomedical workforce, industry and other partnerships, clinical applications and health improvements, and more, all driven by the research to be enabled by the Instrumentation/Tool/Method/Technology] will further the impact of this project.
Examples of Broader Impact Activities
Scientific Outreach
Participation in special mentoring programs for high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and technicians conducting research, e.g. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows Program (SURF), Summer High School Outreach Program, Science Outreach Day.
Research experiences for teachers.
Participation in multi- and interdisciplinary conferences, workshops, and research activities.
Presentation of science and engineering to the broader community (e.g., at museums and libraries, on radio shows, and in other such venues.).
Partnerships with academic scientists & staff at federal agencies and with the private sector on both technological and scientific projects.
Presentation of research and education results in formats understandable and useful for non-scientists.
Use of media to reach out and educate public.
Societal Benefits
Linking discovery and societal benefits via specific examples and sample explanations.
Demonstrating how research can lead to better education and related outcomes.
Improved well-being of individuals in society.
Benefits to animal health.
Integrating research outcomes into broader programs and policies aligned with national priorities.
Providing information/advising/reaching out to policy makers.
Diversity
Collaborations with students and/or faculty who are members of underrepresented groups.
Mentoring of early-career scientists and engineers from underrepresented groups who are submitting NSF proposals.
Research Environment/Infrastructure
Benefits of research to physical and cyber environments.
Ability of research to increase international connections and interaction.
Technology development and growing communities of users.
Innovative research infrastructure.
Technology and knowledge transfer capacity and translational efforts.
Connections with industry.
Training & Individual Career Development
Student participation/contributions in professional societies.
Training of graduate students.
Training of postdocs.
Integration of research and education activities.
Development of research-driven educational materials.
NSF Resources
Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, January, 2016
Investigator/Institutional Scientific Outreach Activities
NSF Revised Merit Review Criteria Resources
Merit Review FAQs
Broader Impacts Review Criterion
Broader Impacts Special Report
Other Useful Links
Broader Impacts Infrastructure Summit
University of Michigan NSF Broader Impacts Guidelines
American Physical Society NSF Broader Impacts Information
Social Epistemology Special Issue: US NSF's Broader Impacts Criterion
Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence: Broader Impacts 2.0
