1. Recent NSF Geosciences Division Award Trends in Addressing Broader Impact Criteria
Susan Meabh Kelly science + education collaboratory

2. Background on NSF Broader Impact
Formation and Mission of National Science Foundation
Development and Significance of Broader Impact
Component for NSF-funded Projects

3. Recent NSF Broader Impact Developments

4. Recent Research on Broader Impact Trends
Verdin, 2017
Broader Impact trends within NSF Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Division of Engineering Directorate
Watts, et al.,
Broader Impact trends in NSF Environmental Biology Division
Nadkarni & Statsch, 2013
Broader Impact trends within NSF Ecosystem Studies (ES) Directorate

5. Question:
What are recent trends in addressing NSF broader impact criteria within Geoscience divisions?

6. Method
Mine NSF project outcome reports (June 1, June 1, 2018) from awards of $800,000+ via
Identify reports that represent one of the four divisions within the Geoscience Directorate (AGS, EAR, OCE, OPP)
Categorize project broader impact efforts according to rubric criteria based recent BI literature (NABI, 2015; Verdin, 2017). Each BI effort counted individually.

7. Broader Impact Criteria

8. NSF Proposal Review Criteria (NSF, 2018)

9. Results

10. Observations and Questions
Education was most well-represented BI type for all four divisions, but efforts and outcomes were vaguely described.
BI efforts to increase representation of people who have been historically marginalized from STEM were rare /52 available GEO reports.

11. Developing a Theoretical Framework for Broader Impacts
Broader Impacts in Research, 2018
Broader Impact Conceptual Framework helps PIs identify BI that is mutually beneficial to stakeholders.
Skrip, 2015
Questions for PIs to consider based on synthesis of communication and BI literature in order to amplify impact.

12. Considering Research- Informed Broader Impact Design
Hurtado et al., 2009
Research experiences of underrepresented undergraduates at four institutions
Rohrbaugh & Corces, 2011
Research Internship and Science Education (RISE), Atlanta Public Schools
Maton et al., 2012
Meyerhoff Scholars Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

13. Pathways for Advancing Broader Impact in the Geosciences

14. Susan Meabh Kelly email: susankelly.ct@gmail.com
web:

15. References
Broader Impacts in Research (2018). Broader impacts conceptual framework. Retrieved from:
Hurtado, S., Cabrera, N. L., Lin, M. H., Arellano, L., & Espinosa, L. (2009). Diversifying science: Underrepresented student experiences in structured research programs. Research in Higher Education, 50 (2),
Jordan, R., Brooks, W., Gray, S.,DeLisi, J., & Berkowitz, A. (2013). Rising to the “broader impacts”
challenge. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11 (5):
Kamenetzky, J. (2013). Opportunities for impact: Statistical analysis of the National Science
Foundation’s broader impacts criterion. Science and Public Policy, 40:
Mardis, M., Hoffman, E., & McMartin, F. (2012). Toward broader impacts: Making sense of
NSF’s merit review criteria in the context of NSF’s merit review criteria in the context of
the National Science Digital Library. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 63 (9):

16. Maton, K. , Pollard, S. , McDougall-Weisse, T. , Hrabowski, F. (2012)
Maton, K., Pollard, S., McDougall-Weisse, T., Hrabowski, F. (2012). Meyerhoff Scholars Program: a
strengths-based, institution-wide approach to increasing diversity in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 79 (5):
Nadkarni, N., & Statsch, A. (2013). How broad are our broader impacts? An analysis of the National
Science Foundation’s Ecosystem Studies Program and the Broader Impacts requirement.
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11 (1):
Nagy, D. (2016). Determinants of Broader Impact activities: A survey of NSF-funded investigators. The
Journal of Research Administration, 47 (1):
National Alliance for Broader Impacts (2015). Broader impacts guiding principles and questions for
National Science Foundation proposals. Retrieved via:
National Science Foundation (2018). Proposal award policies & procedures guide. Retrieved via:

17. Rohrbaugh, M. & Corces, V. (2011)
Rohrbaugh, M. & Corces, V. (2011). Opening pathways for underrepresented high school students to
biomedical research careers: The Emory University RISE program. Genetics, 189 (4);
Skrip, M. (2015). Crafting and evaluating broader impact activities: A theory-based guide for
scientists. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 13 (5):
Verdin, D. (2017, June). Quantifying and assessing trends on the National Science
Foundation’s Broader Impact Criterion. Paper presented at the American Society for
Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Columbus, Ohio.
Watts, S., George, M., & Levey, D. (2015). Achieving broader impacts in the National Science
Foundation, Division of Environmental Biology. Bioscience, 65:
Wiley, S. (2014). Doing broader impacts? The National Science Foundation (NSF) broader impacts
criterion and communication-based activities. Masters thesis, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.