Transcript Broader Impacts - University of Alabama in Huntsville

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Broader Impacts
Sherita Moses-Whitlow
07/09/09
Disclaimer
• This research is based on the study of six
grants, and therefore is by no means a
statistical representation of complete data.
Outline
• Definition of Broader Impacts (BI)
• Relation of BI to the Mission of the National
Science Foundation
• Categories of Broader Impacts
• Examples of Broader Impacts
• Specific Considerations for Funding
• Purpose of Project
• Comparison/Contrast of Awarded Proposals and
Declined Proposals
– Analysis
• Conclusion
Definition of Broader Impacts
• According to James L. Ritchie-Dunham, Chief
Strategist at the Institute for Strategic Clarity and
Associate in the Psychology Department at
Harvard University, Broader Impacts are a
demonstration of:
– (1) the strategic probabilities in the seemingly impossible in
societal collaboration;
– (2) the ability to hear and act with the voice of a broad,
vulnerable collective, in deep conflict with its stakeholders;
– (3) the capacity of local leaders to lead these processes; and
– (4) the integration of efforts across global action networks
Ritchie-Dunham, James L. (2001). Managing from Clarity: Identifying, Aligning, and
Leveraging Strategic Resources. Chichester: Wiley. ISBN 0-471-49731-2
Broader Impacts Relate to the Mission of NSF
The purposes of Broader Impacts as they relate
to the mission of the National Science
Foundation are
• To promote the progress of science
• To advance the national health, prosperity, and
welfare
• To secure the national defense
(NSF Act of 1950)
Categories of Broader Impacts (5)
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Advance discovery and understanding
while promoting teaching, training, and
learning
Broaden participation of underrepresented
groups
Enhance infrastructure for research and
education
Broaden dissemination to enhance scientific
and technological understanding
Show benefits to society
Examples
I.
Advance discovery and understanding
– Training graduate students
– Mentoring postdoctoral researchers & jr. faculty
– Involving undergrads in research
– Participating in recruitment, training, and
professional development of K-12 mathematics and
science teachers
– Presentations to local high school to foster interest
in STEM fields
Examples
II. Participation of underrepresented groups
– Establishing collaborations with students and faculty
from institutions and organizations serving women,
minorities, disabled, and other groups in stem fields
• National Organization for Women (Education & Title IX,
Women in Science, etc.)
• HBCUs
• http://www.access-board.gov/links/disability.htm
Examples
III. Enhance infrastructure for research &
education
– Establishing collaborations with researchers in
industry and government laboratories
– Developing partnerships with international
academic institutions and organizations
– Building networks of US colleges and universities
Examples
IV. Broaden dissemination enhancing
scientific and technological
understanding
– By presenting results of research and
education projects in formats useful to
students, scientists and engineers, members
of congress, teachers, and the general public
Examples
V. Benefits to society
– When results of research are applied to other
fields of science and technology
•
•
•
•
To create start up companies
To improve commercial technology
To inform public policy
To enhance national security
Specific Considerations for Funding
There are two areas the NSF gives
special consideration when
considering funding decisions
(www.nsf.gov):
II. Participation of
underrepresented
groups
– Integrating Diversity
• Enabling participation of
ALL citizens is essential to
the health and vitality of
science and engineering
• NSF deems it central to the
programs, projects, and
activities it considers and
supports
III. Enhance infrastructure
for research &
education
• Integrating Research
– Foster integration through
the programs, projects and
activities it supports at
academic and research
institutions
– Provide opportunities for
responsibilities as
researchers, educators,
students
Purpose of Project
According to the National Science Foundation,
while most researchers understand Intellectual
Merit, experience shows that many researchers
have a less than clear understanding of the
meaning of Broader Impacts
As we analyze the Broader Impacts of successful
and unsuccessful grants, we will determine how
thorough each proposer meets the criteria
specified, thereby revealing the importance of
this requirement in research proposals
To maintain anonymity, some
information has been scrubbed
ACCEPTED
(1)
(2)
(3)
DENIED
(4)
(5)
(6)
Criterion 1 - Successful
Advance discovery and understanding while
promoting teaching, training, and learning
•Provide new insight…
•Provide dataset used to interpret data from next generation
of operational interpretation and operational strategies
(proposal 1)
•Integrate student support and placement
•Increase faculty involvement in mentoring students
(proposal 2)
•Multi-disciplinary research effort…
(proposal 3)
Criterion 2
Participation of underrepresented groups
(proposal 1)
•The investigators, all women, will make diversity integral to
this project by recruiting minorities from Oakwood College
and other institutions
(proposal 2)
•(proposal 3)
Criterion 3
Enhance infrastructure for research and
education
•Involving students from universities with…
…departments will contribute substantially to both
undergraduate and graduate education
•recruitment of new scientists to… (P1)
•Increase student retention in STEM fields
•Increase faculty involvement in mentoring students
(proposal 2)
•Student groups are currently performing related
research in the areas of…
(proposal 3)
Criterion 4
Broaden dissemination enhancing scientific
and technological understanding
•Provide new insight concerning…
•Provide dataset used to interpret data from next generation
•of operational interpretation and operational strategies
(proposal 1)
•Integrate student support and placement
•Increase faculty involvement in mentoring students
(proposal 2)
•Multi-disciplinary research effort…
(proposal 3)
Criterion 5
Benefits to Society
•Decrease deaths, injuries and accidents annually
Due to…
(proposal 1)
•Increase depth and diversity of the …
(proposal 2)
•Application areas are broad and of particular interest
to local and regional customers
(proposal 3)
Criterion 1 - Unsuccessful
Advance discovery and understanding while
promoting teaching, training, and learning
•Extensive website and… for use
in the classroom
(proposal 4)
(proposal 5)
•Incorporation of graduate students in STEM into high
school classrooms
(proposal 6)
Criterion 2
Participation of underrepresented
groups
(proposal 4)
(proposal 5)
(proposal 6)
Criterion 3
Enhance infrastructure for research
and education
•Educational benefits will be realized through
enhancements to undergraduate and graduate level
courses at UAH
(proposal 4)
(proposal 5)
•Investigators expect that there will be increased
dialogue between the colleges of… and local K12
school systems
(proposal 6)
Criterion 4
Broaden dissemination enhancing
scientific and technological
understanding
•Test and improve new …, and
enhance interpretation of new measurements through
improved products derived from the … (proposal 4)
(proposal 5)
(proposal 6)
Criterion 5
Benefits to Society
•Introduction of new technology into the operational
sector, and utilization of this instrumentation by the
operational community will improve … (proposal 4)
(proposal 5)
•Incorporation of graduate students in STEM into high
school classrooms
•Improvement in science education and perception of
science as a career (proposal 6)
Analysis
• Successful
– Proposals 1 and 3 did not meet requirement for
criterion 2, but they did meet the other 4 criteria
• Unsuccessful
– Proposal 4 did not meet the requirement for
criterion 2
– Proposal 6 did not meet the requirement for
criteria 2 or 4
– Proposal 5 did not meet any of the requirements
for the criteria of Broader Impacts
Conclusion
• I feel that three successful and three
unsuccessful analyses were insufficient to
determine the influence of Broader Impacts
on funded proposals
• However, of the grants analyzed, it was clear
that the Broader Impacts of the successful
grants were more developed, inclusive and
thorough
• Therefore, take care to address each
criterion listed for a better chance at being
awarded