Congress created the NSF in 1950 as an independent federal agency.

1. Congress created the NSF in 1950 as an independent federal agency. Budget ~$7.0 billion (2012) Funding for basic research.

2. National Science Foundation Organization NSF Director National Science Board OBAMA Subra Suresh (MIT) Office of the Inspector General Directorate for Biological Sciences Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering Office of Cyberinfrastructure Directorate for Education & Human Resources Office of International Science & Engineering Directorate for Engineering Office of Polar Programs Office of Budget, Finance & Award Management Directorate for Geosciences Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences Office of Information & Resource Management

3. NSF's Mission - Discovery, learning, research infrastructure and stewardship • Provide an integrated strategy to advance the frontiers of knowledge • Cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce • Expand the scientific literacy of all citizens • Build the nation's research capability- advance instrumentation and facilities • Support excellence in science and engineering research and education

4. America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 Broader Impacts are the LAW!

5. Goals for Broader Impacts • Increase US economic competitiveness • Develop a globally competitive STEM workforce. • Increase participation of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM. • Increase partnerships of academia and industry. • Improve pre-K–12 STEM education and teacher development. • Improve undergraduate STEM education. • Increase public scientific literacy. • Increase national security.

6. Designing Broader Impacts • Don’t try to fulfill every BI goal – better to do a good job in one area. • Don’t reinvent the wheel – show knowledge of and incorporate institutional or other existing programs – but add your “signature” • Integrate with your research – hands on or, conceptually; consider societal relevance • Potential for sustainability or dissemination – how any people will be impacted? • Consider evaluation/assessment – measures of impact or learning outcomes.

7. Some Common Reasons BIs are “Dinged”: • Educational component is limited to “routine” course development. • Project is unrealistically over-ambitious. • Integration of education with research is weak or uninspired. • Evaluation of educational outcomes not included. • No supporting documentation from cooperators (eg. K-12 teachers). • No budget requested to support activities. • Mechanism to include underrepresented groups is not included.

8. Some simple, but important things • Be sincere. Do not propose what you really don’t want to do. You will need to put your accomplishments in your progress report. • Be specific. • - Mention students to be involved by name or how you will recruit them (always mention former students by name and outcome). • If students are to be involved in research, state their specific role – what data will they actually collect. • Treat BI like the rest of your proposal. • Start thinking well before the deadline. • Talk to your Program Officer.

9. Examples of Broader Impacts (in brief) published in 2007 are given at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf

10. http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2011/meritreviewcriteria.pdfhttp://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2011/meritreviewcriteria.pdf

11. http://www.nsf.gov/news/strategicplan/nsfstrategicplan_2011_2016.pdfhttp://www.nsf.gov/news/strategicplan/nsfstrategicplan_2011_2016.pdf