National Science Foundation proposals must explicitly address two merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit  and Broader Impacts. Both must be highlighted and discussed in the Project Summary, and the Narrative must include a separate section with the exact title, "Broader Impacts of the Proposed Work."

The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge. The definition of Broader Impacts is more complex.

Resources for understanding and developing that section of your proposal may be found at:

• NSF Broader Impacts Review Criterion
• Broader impacts in NSF's Division of Environmental Biology leave hope for improvement

UCR-specific contacts for planning outreach can be found on our  proposal development page under Proposal Development Materials, under CAREER, Broader Impacts.