Broader Impacts:Meaningful Links between Research and Societal BenefitsOctober 23, 2014
Martin Storksdieck I Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning I [email protected]
Intellectual Merit versus Broader Impact
• Intellectual Merit: How research advances science, math and engineering• You are talking to your colleagues!
• Broader Impact: How your work benefits society in other ways than advancing your field, discipline, sub-discipline, topic.• Why should society fund you? Why should Congress care?• This CAN include dramatic advances of our understanding of the world.
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
Broader Impacts Defined
• Communicating research to diverse publics in order to build a more scientifically literate and technically competent society.
• Training the next generation of professionals and academics especially in STEM fields.
• Broadening the participation of underrepresented groups.• Enhancing infrastructure for research and education.• Creating innovative new business opportunities.• Other strategies for advancing society’s health & well-being.
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
Recent Changes to NSF Guidelines
• Advance knowledge and specific desired societal outcomes.• Explore creative, original, or potentially transformative
concepts.• A clear plan based on a sound rationale and research. • A mechanism for assessing success. • A qualified individual, team, or organization.• Sufficient resources to carry out proposed activities.• Efforts that can be aggregated and/or are part of an institution
wide-effort.
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
I want to do my research, not outreach!
My research is important, but there’s not enough time or money to do Broader Impacts
My research really matters and I’ll make sure everyone benefits!
Think Broadly
Training and Inclusion
Youth
Solving Problems
Citizen Science
Communicate
Business
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
OSU’s Invitational Workshop – December 2012
OPPORTUNITIES1) Supporting OSU’s
Mission as a Land Grant University;
2) Positioning OSU for Success; and
3) Supporting the OSU Strategic Plan and Research Agenda.
CHALLENGES1) Culture and Rewards2) Capacity and Tradeoffs3) Connections and
Maximizing Existing Capacity
• A strategic approach to broader impacts to improve competitiveness
• Identify the specific tools & supports investigators need
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
Your Role – The Basics
• Excel at Broader Impacts – be competitive
• Find the right partners and include them early
• Tap into existing resources
• Design activities in context
• Determine your long-term broader impacts goals!
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
We are here to help![And we are not the only ones]
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
http://stem.science.oregonstate.edu
Talk to us:
[email protected]@oregonstate.edu