Broader Impacts: Translating Research for Societal Benefit
Understanding broader impacts
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) requires every grant proposal to discuss its broader impacts—that is, to answer the question: “How does your research benefit society?”. NSF notes that research should not only advance discovery but also have the potential “to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes”. Desired outcomes include STEM education, public engagement, societal well‑being, workforce development, partnerships and even economic competitiveness. In other words, scientists are encouraged to think beyond publications and consider how their work affects communities.
Strategies for achieving broader impacts
- Plan outreach activities early. Integrate public engagement into your project design rather than treating it as an afterthought. Consider lab open days, citizen‑science activities or community workshops that align with your research topic.
- Collaborate with educators and communicators. Partner with teachers to develop classroom resources or with communication specialists to create accessible content. SciTube’s animations can turn complex processes into engaging educational tools for schools and museums.
- Develop training programmes. Host webinars or short courses to build capacity in your field. This addresses the broader impact of building a diverse and globally competitive STEM workforce.
- Foster partnerships. Build collaborations with industry, non‑profits or government bodies to ensure your findings translate into practice. Partnerships help extend the reach of your research and can open new funding opportunities.
- Document and evaluate your impact. Use metrics to show how many people engaged with your outreach activities, whether policies changed or if new products were developed. Transparent reporting demonstrates that public funds lead to public benefits.
Why SciTube?
Broader impacts often require public engagement and STEM education. SciTube’s animated explainer videos can support grant proposals by illustrating how you will communicate your work to non‑specialists. When funders see that you have a concrete plan to reach society—backed by engaging, accessible media—it strengthens your proposal and ensures that research benefits everyone.