Broader Impacts 2.0: Helping Scientists Navigate The New NSF Grant Proposal Guide

In October 2012, the National Science Foundation (NSF) updated their Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) for the first time in 15 years. Part of this major revision was updated language to reflect significant changes in how NSF panelists, reviewers, and program officers will evaluate STEM research proposals’ broader impacts plan. To help proposers understand these revisions, the Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence — Florida (COSEE-Florida) convened a series of stakeholders to develop Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the change. Those questions are now available in a report called Broader Impacts 2.0. Informal science education offers a range of opportunities for scientists to connect their work with the public—particularly for researchers and STEM-based professionals who want to reach underserved audiences through museums, community organizations, or media, for example. Research has shown that the public views ISE organizations as trusted sources for science information. There has also been extensive research on public engagement in science through communication and learning experiences in informal environments. CAISE has been exploring this through our Broader Impacts initiative, specifically by working with National Science Foundation Centers for Chemical Innovation and Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers. Have you worked with STEM-based professionals—NSF-funded or not—on an outreach activity in an informal learning environment? Consider disseminating the project by submitting to informalscience.org.