When developing a Broader Impacts activity, it is important to consider the content, execution, and goals of the project.
Questions to Ask:
- What is your level of interest in your idea? (You will probably be doing this for several years)
- How does your idea align with the goals of your partners/institution?
- How much does your idea benefit or strengthen your research and your future goals?
- How significant would the impact of your research be?
- How creative is the idea?
- How sustainable is the idea in the long-term?
How to Get Started
- Start Early – Creating a Broader Impacts activity requires forethought and organization, so start brainstorming early.
- Outline Goals – Consider carefully what outcomes you hope to achieve with your activity. Whatever your plan is, it should have clear, quantifiable outcomes that can be clearly stated and evaluated. This will help ensure that you and your project reviewers understand the impact you are looking to achieve.
- Consider Successful Examples: Look at projects and programs that have successfully implemented their Broader Impacts goals.Georgia Techhas examples of sample Broader Impacts statements, andCOSSEEprovides some successful case studies. The National Science Foundation has funded many successfulFocused Outreach Programsthat emphasize broader impacts.
- Partner with Existing Programs: CAS and other colleges/organizations within BU host a number ofprogramsthat can integrate or assist with your Broader Impacts plans.
- Use Your Resources: Talk to faculty and staff who have developed Broader Impacts plans or been involved with STEM community outreach and look at ourResourcespage for information on the process and for tools to help you succeed.
- Develop an Evaluation Plan: Create a clear method of evaluating your project so that your progress is clear and you can identify problems along the way.