Merit Review Broader Impacts Criterion Representative Activities.pdfVIP

Merit Review Broader Impacts Criterion: Representative Activities Proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation are evaluated through use of two merit review criteria, which all proposals must address explicitly. Experience shows that while most proposers have little difficulty responding to the criterion relating to intellectual merit, many proposers have difficulty understanding how to frame the broader impacts of the activities they propose to undertake. The examples provided below are organized by the set of potential considerations used in assessing the broader impacts of the proposed activity. They illustrate activities that, when successfully incorporated in a project description, will help reviewers and NSF program staff address the broader impacts criterion in the review and decision process. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is any particular example relevant to all proposals. Proposers can draw from the examples but are urged to be creative in their approaches to demonstrating the broader impacts of their projects. Proposers already undertaking similar kinds of activities should carefully consider how to link these examples to the research and education projects they are proposing for funding. Proposers also should consider what types of activities best suit their interests, while enhancing the broader impacts of the project being proposed. The components of the broader impacts criterion as defined by the National Science Board are listed below. The list is followed by short sections on each component that provide background information and representative activities. Broader Impacts C