National Science Foundation (NSF)
$500,000 won
Narrative Approach
Verified Win

NSF: the broader impacts criterion and how to nail it

Every NSF proposal is scored on both Intellectual Merit AND Broader Impacts. Most applicants nail Intellectual Merit but treat Broader Impacts as an afterthought — and get declined. Frame Broader Impacts as a structured plan, not a paragraph of aspirations.

Dr. Robert Chen

Professor and PI

University of California, Davis — Computer Science

54 upvotes

The Strategy

NSF reviews every proposal against two criteria: Intellectual Merit (the science) and Broader Impacts (the societal benefit). Reviewers assign scores to both. A proposal with outstanding science but weak Broader Impacts will be declined — I have seen it happen to excellent PIs. The Broader Impacts plan must be specific, measurable, and integrated with the research — not a tacked-on paragraph about diversity. NSF recognizes five Broader Impacts categories: (1) advancing discovery and understanding, (2) promoting teaching, training, and learning, (3) broadening participation of underrepresented groups, (4) enhancing infrastructure for research and education, (5) benefiting society. The winning structure: pick 2-3 categories and develop a concrete plan for each. We will integrate…

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