An Introduction to Planning Broader Impact Projects

The BI Wizard provides support in defining the key elements of an effective BI plan. The Wizard will help researchers answer these important questions:

  • Who will I work with?
  • How and where will I work with them?
  • What effective practices support my proposed approach?
  • How will I know if I have been successful/effective?
  • And how much will all this cost?

The BI Wizard provides guidance based on the experience of ARIS BI professionals. Please watch the video above for more information about the BI Wizard and an introduction to constructing effective BI projects.

New Version 2.0! In response to feedback from the community, the ARIS BI Wizard was fully redesigned and updated on March 15, 2023. Please let us know what you think.

The NSF expects all Principal Investigators to communicate the societal benefits of their research. Broader Impacts activities can take many forms and range in scope and duration. For example they can occur through the:

  • Research itself including research that has potential to lead to breakthroughs in certain industries or contribute to solutions to societal problems or
  • Activities that are directly related to specific research projects or are supported by, but are complementary to, the project

The BI Wizard presents several considerations and provides an interactive worksheet to assist with constructing a BI plan for a proposal.

Let's get started!

Start anywhere in the cycle to develop a strong BI plan.

Who will I engage?
Finding Partners and Determining your Target Audience

Determine who you want to reach with your BI efforts and how you can have a positive impact.

How much will this cost?
Developing your Budget

Brainstorm the resources will you need to achieve your objectives and develop a viable budget.

How is my research relevant to society?

Explore a range of BI options supported and encouraged by NSF.

How will I know if my BI project is successful?

Explore evaluation strategies for your BI project.

Pulling it all together

Use our interactive worksheet to draft an outline for your BI plan.