(5d) Making Your Research Matter: Strategies for Successful Broader Impacts Statements

This oral presentation is aimed at new faculty starting their careers and focuses on best practices for writing a strong Broader Impacts Statement for NSF proposals. The presentation emphasizes the importance of considering the impact of scientific research on society beyond the lab and highlights the role of the Broader Impacts Statement as a crucial aspect of any research proposal submitted to NSF. The presentation identifies various strategies for creating a successful Broader Impacts Statement, including identifying desired societal outcomes, selecting relevant evidence-based practices for dissemination, finding collaborators, and incorporating the Broader Impacts Impact Framework. Additionally, the presentation emphasizes the importance of evaluating the impact of proposed educational activities, and accounting for the time and costs associated with broader impacts activities. It also covers common pitfalls to avoid in writing a Broader Impacts Statement, such as a generic or unrealistic educational component, reinventing the wheel with an outreach deliverable, and focusing solely on education. The presentation is intended to provide new faculty with practical guidance for writing a strong Broader Impacts Statement that advances science and society while increasing the fundability of NSF proposals.