1. 1 “Broader Impacts”: NSF Changes & SE Researcher Strategies Margaret Burnett, Lori Clarke, Sebastian Elbaum, Bill Pugh Oregon State Univ., Univ. Mass Amherst, Univ. Nebraska Lincoln, Univ. Maryland and NSF

2. 2 History 1981 – 1996: 4 NSF Merit Review Criteria –Competence –Intrinsic merit –Utility or relevance –Effect on infrastructure of science and engineering 1997 – 2011: 2 NSF Merit Review Criteria –Intellectual merit –Broader Impacts: 5 BI (sub)criteria 2011: National Science Board reviewing current criteria –Both Merit and BI

3. 3 NSF has been increasing BI Criteria here and there Science/Technology Centers and Engineering Research Centers –Diversity plan and Education plan NYI, Career Awards: Education plan CISE CE21: Broadening participation plan All proposals since Jan. ’11: Data mgt plan All proposals with a postdoc: –Mentoring plan

4. 4 This Activity is in Response to This Message: The people, through its elected officials, want the researchers that it funds to have impact on society.

5. 5 But... Some Conflicts Good research is speculative; it may not, in itself, have societal impact. CS researchers may not have: –time, know-how, or $ set aside to make effective BI by themselves. in itself $ by themselves

6. Grantees participate in research-related activities that directly address some of the broader impacts 8 societal goals. –Funding: These activities are funded by the grant. –Infrastructure: Departments, colleges, and universities provide infrastructure that researchers can plug into. –Accountability: Activities are reported in the annual and final reports. 6 Possible Resolution in itself $ by themselves in itself $

7. Congress Steps in... On January 4, 2011 Pres. Obama signed into law the –“America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (America COMPETES) Reauthorization Act of 2010” Broader Impacts Criterion were explicitly listed 7

8. 8 America COMPETES Act: The New BI Criteria The Act directs the NSF to apply these Broader Impacts review criteria: 1.Increased economic competitiveness of the United States. 2.Development of a globally competitive STEM workforce. 3.Increased participation of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM. 4.Increased partnerships between academia and industry. 5.Improved pre-K-12 STEM education and teacher development. 6.Improved undergraduate STEM education. 7.Increased public scientific literacy. 8.Increased national security.

9. 9 America Competes Act: Furthermore... Deadline: –“Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop and implement a policy for the Broader Impacts Review Criterion...” –It became law on January 4, 2011 July 4, 2011 is the deadline NSF Program Director/panel education: –“provides for educating professional staff..., review panels, and applicants”

10. Where Do I Start? Broader Impact (BI) activities don’t have to be novel (except for BI-focused grants). You don’t have to cover all categories. Build your track record. You don’t have to do it alone!!! 10

11. Anti-Patterns and why they’re anti-patterns No broader impact: –I’ll train my grad students. –I’ll teach it in a grad course. Open question: Need it be responsive to the “message” of the research having an impact? –I’ll mail some money to NCWIT. –(See Bill’s discussion of “sidecars”.) 11

12. Who Can Help? Collaborators in CS, in Education, …. Department/University support and infrastructure Organizations for underrepresented groups: NSF BPC Alliances, CRA-W, CS/AMP, …. NCWIT’s “In-a-box” kits 12

13. The Big Picture: Why Do Such BI Activities They make the world better BIs can lead to better science –New ideas, researchers, collaborations, etc. They pay the bills –American taxpayers fund our research NSF won’t fund without them –It’s the law 13