Broadening Participation in STEM

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Broadening Participation in STEM Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Robb Winter, Ph.D. Chemical and Biological
Engineering Interim Director, Composites and
Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE) Co-Site
Director, I/UCRC for Bioenergy Research and
Development (CBERD) formerly, Program
Manager, Broadening Participation and East Asia
and Pacific Program and Member of the NSF-wide
Working Group on Broadening Participation Office
of International Science and Engineering, NSF
Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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Merit Review Criteria Broader Impacts -
Broadening Participation
NSF 09-29, April 2009, Grant Proposal Guide,
Chapter III, A III-1 - NSF Proposal Processing
and Review What are the broader impacts of the
proposed activity? How well does the activity
advance discovery and understanding while
promoting teaching, training, and learning? How
well does the proposed activity broaden the
participation of underrepresented groups (e.g.,
gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?
To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure
for research and education, such as facilities,
instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will
the results be disseminated broadly to enhance
scientific and technological understanding? What
may be the benefits of the proposed activity to
society?
Examples of Broader Impacts - Broadening
Participation
Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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Merit Review Criteria Broader Impacts -
Broadening Participation
NSF staff will give careful consideration to the
following in making funding decisions Integratio
n of Research and Education One of the principal
strategies in support of NSF's goals is to foster
integration of research and education through the
programs, projects and activities it supports at
academic and research institutions. These
institutions provide abundant opportunities where
individuals may concurrently assume
responsibilities as researchers, educators, and
students, and where all can engage in joint
efforts that infuse education with the excitement
of discovery and enrich research through the
diversity of learning perspectives. Integrating
Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and
Activities Broadening opportunities and enabling
the participation of all citizens, women and men,
underrepresented minorities, and persons with
disabilities, are essential to the health and
vitality of science and engineering. NSF is
committed to this principle of diversity and
deems it central to the programs, projects, and
activities it considers and supports.
Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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Broadening Participation Drivers within NSF

• Directorate/Office Division Program (advise
  and assessment)
• Advisory Committee (OISE)
• Comm. on Equal Opportunity in Eng. and Science,
  CEOSE
• (OD/OIA/activities/CEOSE)
• Committee of Visitors, COV,
• (OD/Office of Integrated Activities /COV) OISE
  Rec 8, 9, 11

• NSF-wide Broadening Participation Working Group
  (BPWG)
• A priority at NSF, referenced in major policy
  documents
• Grant Proposal Guide,
• Strategic Plan, and
• NSF Budget Request
• Framework for Action

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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NSF-wide BPWG Framework for Action

• WG - Composition
• Representatives from all Directorates and Offices
• Experts from EHR, SBS, Legal, others

• Broadening Participation
• Provides for the creative engagement of diverse
  ideas and perspectives to enable transformative
  research
• Infuses science and engineering excellence into
  varied individual, institutional, and geographic
  networks
• Provides for the discovery and nurturing of
  talent wherever it may be found

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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NSF-wide BPWG Framework for Action

• NSF defines BP in terms of
• Individuals underrepresented in STEM (discipline
  specific)
• Gender
• Race/Ethnicity (Alaska Natives, Native Americans,
  Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics, Native
  Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders)
• Persons with Disabilities
• Institutions that do not participate in NSF
  activities at the same rate comparable to others
  (e.g PUIs, MSIs, K-12 systems, non profits
  engaged in STEM activities)
• Geographical Areas that do not participate in NSF
  activities at the same rate comparable to others
  (e.g. EPSCoR jurisdictions and low socio-economic
  zones)

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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NSF-wide BPWG Framework for Action

1. Maintain and update the NSF portfolio of
   broadening participation programs (BP Portfolio)
2. Increase the diversity of scientists and other
   STEM experts who review NSF proposals
3. Provide training for staff on NSF priorities and
   mechanisms for broadening participation and
   workforce development
4. Communicate broadening participation and
   workforce development guidance and promising
   practices within NSF and throughout the STEM
   community (OD/BP)

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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NSF-wide BPWG Framework for Action

1. Enhance the accountability and tracking of
   NSF-supported broadening participation efforts
   through reporting
2. Promote effectiveness and relevance of the NSF
   broadening participation portfolio via periodic
   evaluations
3. Develop an implementation schedule based on the
   above recommended action items

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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Merit Review Basis of Decisions - Review NSF
Day E. Teles and R. Winter

• Merit Review
• Content of the review may be more important than
  the rating particularly in large panels.
• Program Director analyzes reviews
• Fairness
• Substance in the reviews
• Technical problems raised in the reviews major
  vs. minor
• Reasons for the reviewer concerns or enthusiasm
• Impact of information not available to the
  reviewer (e.g. updates)
• Program Director sometimes obtains additional
  reviews or comments from the PI
• Panel Recommendations

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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Merit Review Basis of Decisions Portfolio
Balancing NSF Day E. Teles and R. Winter

• Innovation and creativity
• High risk- high reward projects
• Breadth of research areas
• Priority areas and systems
• Demographics and Diversity
• Broadening participation
• Institutional impact- PUI, EPSCOR, etc.
• Integration of research and education
• International collaborations

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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Thoughts to Consider in Proposal Preparation -
Broadening Participation

• Avoid trite, generic, or non-specific language
• Carefully read the solicitation for broadening
  participation specific instructions
• Provide history of past broadening participation
  efforts
• Clearly articulate a nondiscriminatory,
  nonexclusive strategy for broadening
  participation
• Consider sustainability
• Cite relevant broadening participation literature
  to support your planned broadening participation
  strategy (Dir. for SBE Sci.)
• Keep in mind Reviewers and the Program Officer
  make it easy for them to identify your broadening
  participation efforts

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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Thoughts to Consider in Proposal Preparation -
Broadening Participation

• Consider partnering with institutions with
  underrepresented groups in your field (e.g. HSI,
  HBCU, TCU, PUI, Comm. College)
• Develop meaningful long-term relationships
• Avoid superficial partnerships
• Leverage on campus resources these might provide
  evidence toward sustainability
• Department vision and strategy
• On going REUs (NSF EHR HRD programs)
• Multicultural Center
• Honors College
• Research Office
• NSF is always interested in new creative
  approaches!!!

Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009
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NSF-Broadening Participations Resources
Grant Proposal Guide http//www.nsf.gov/publicat
ions/pub_summ.jsp?ods_keygpg Examples of
Broader Impacts http//www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broa
derimpacts.pdf OISE AC http//www.nsf.gov/od/ois
e/advisory.jsp OD/OIA/CEOSE http//www.nsf.gov/o
d/oia/activities/ceose/index.jsp OD/OIA/COV http
//www.nsf.gov/od/oia/activities/cov/index.jsp OD/B
P http//www.nsf.gov/od/broadeningparticipation/b
p.jsp http//www.nsf.gov/od/broadeningparticipati
on/bp_workinggroup.jsp NSF 06-11 Strategic
Plan http//www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp
?ods_keynsf0648 BP - Framework for
Action http//www.nsf.gov/od/broadeningparticipat
ion/framework_report.jsp BP Portfolio http//www.
nsf.gov/od/broadeningparticipation/bp_portfolio.js
p
Understanding NSF Broader Impacts Workshop, April
14, 2009