Broader Impacts
What are Broader Impacts?
National Science Foundation (NSF) proposals are reviewed using two merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts.
Broader impacts (BI) are the societal impact of the proposal and “may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to the project (NSF, 2023 PPAG, II.D.2.d).
Suggested areas provided by NSF include, but are not limited to:
- 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 U.S.
- Use of science and technology to inform public policy
- and enhanced infrastructure for research and education
From its inception, NSF has incorporated language and the expectation that the impact of its research on the public should be strongly considered when applying for funding, and for those making funding decisions.