How is my research relevant to society?
How can you convert the scientific questions you propose into messages relevant to your audience (beyond your peers)?
It is important to remember that conversations with your audience are a two way street. You are not just bestowing knowledge in your BI activities, it is a process of learning what is important to your audience and finding common ground to share how your research is relevant and perhaps provide solutions to questions your audience may have about the science.
The goal is to understand which aspects of your research are most relevant to them, and what you should prioritize as you share your research beyond your peers.
NSF's Updated Priorities
In April 2025, NSF provided updated guidance on Broader Impacts and clarified how Broadening Participation activities may be addressed. This page has been updated to reflect this new guidance.
In particular, "Investigators should prioritize the first six broader impacts goals as defined by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. Investigators wishing to address goal seven — expanding participation in STEM for women and underrepresented groups — must ensure that all outreach, recruitment, or participatory activities in NSF projects are open and available to all Americans."
Investigators are encouraged to review the Updates on NSF Priorities page for the latest information.
Broader Impacts Review Criterion
The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 lays out the following Broader Impacts Review Criterion for NSF funded research.
The Foundation shall apply a broader impacts review criterion to identify and demonstrate project support of the following goals:
- Increasing the economic competitiveness of the United States.
- Advancing of the health and welfare of the American public.
- Supporting the national defense of the United States.
- Enhancing partnerships between academia and industry in the United States.
- Developing an American STEM workforce that is globally competitive through improved pre-kindergarten through grade 12 STEM education and teacher development, and improved undergraduate STEM education and instruction.
- Improving public scientific literacy and engagement with science and technology in the United States.
- Expanding participation of women and individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM.
There is no one set way to satisfy the Broader Impacts Criterion.
PIs can use a variety of approaches to ensure their work satisfies both the societal and scientific relevance of their research.
The NSF Broader Impacts information page lays out a number of societal benefits your work might support. And you can use a variety of approaches to incorporate broader impacts in your research. For example, you might include a separate education or outreach objective alongside your research efforts. Or, your goal might be be to integrate educational efforts as part of your research work directly. The trick is to make sure you are satisfying the needs of your intended audience, and that your goals and objects are clearly spelled out, and in line with NSF priorities.
Investigators should also review the latest version of the PAPPG and the Updates on NSF Priorities page for additional guidance in address BI criteria.
In Your Proposal
When constructing and reviewing your BI statement, it is important to consider the following questions:
- Does your BI statement address a demonstrated need?
- Are the needs of those participating in your project described?
- Are the benefits to participation described?
- Is the length of the engagement with the participants described and adequate?
- Is there a mechanism described for reaching them?
Reviewers of your proposal will be asking:
- What is the potential for the proposed activity to benefit society and contribute to achievement of specific desired societal outcomes?
- To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?