Civic Engagement, Graduate Education, and the Broader Impacts Criterion of the National Science Foundation.

Abstract

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research proposals on the basis of two review criteria: intellectual merit (IM) and broader impacts (BI). The intellectual merit criterion is well- established and understood, but the broader impacts criterion, which is focused on the ways in which research can benefit society and/or meet NSF- identified societal outcomes, is purposefully non- prescriptive and has much room for interpretation. Civic engagement centers are well- positioned to support the research of graduate students and other scholars in meeting the BI criterion because of their expertise in public engagement aspects of research and reflective practice. The purpose of this article is to describe ways in which the engagement community can facilitate a greater understanding of the BI criterion and contribute to research projects with well- developed broader impacts plans, particularly for graduate students. In so doing, the author will draw on her experience in co- facilitating a university- wide workshop series for undergraduate seniors and early career graduate students who apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. The goals of this paper are to provide (a) an understanding of the NSF evaluation criteria, specifically the BI criterion and its connection to civic engagement, (b) activities that encourage early career scholars to meet the BI criterion in their NSF Graduate Research Fellowship applications, and (c) ideas on how civic engagement centers could support the work of NSF- funded disciplines.