The potential to engage many audiences and to impact a broad range of scientific and societal issues is highlighted by the recent National Science Foundation (NSF) Earth Science Literacy Initiative. NSF proposals are evaluated on "Intellectual Merit" and "Broader Impacts". Examples of broader impact activities that EarthScope scientists might propose, which would contribute to improving Earth science literacy and EarthScope visibility, are listed below.
EarthScope Education and Outreach (E&O)
Workshops & Meetings
E&O by Scientists
E&O Resources
Broader Impact Ideas
Related E&O Websites
About EarthScope E&O
Broader Impacts: Some Ideas for EarthScope Scientists
1. Produce EarthScope data products, including animations, visualizations, "in the field" videos, and other materials for the EarthScope web site or presentation in the EarthScope booth at professional meetings.
2. Develop content for products such as the IRIS Active Earth display or educational one-pagers.
3. Author articles on science results for EarthScope newsletters, or for national and international general science magazines and e-zines.
4. Develop materials on EarthScope and EarthScope-based science for inclusion in textbooks.
5. In collaboration with classroom teachers, develop and test classroom activities related to EarthScope.
6. Participate as an instructor in workshops organized by IRIS, UNAVCO, or the EarthScope National Office for classroom teachers or geoscience interpreters.
7. Help staff the EarthScope booth at GSA or AGU meetings.
8. Involve students in your EarthScope research through the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.
9. Develop exhibits, films, television and radio programs, or youth and community projects through the NSF Communicating Research to Public Audiences (CRPA) "Informal Science Education" program.
10. Some additional broader impact suggestions from NSF:
- - Partner with museums, nature centers, science centers, and similar institutions to develop exhibits in science, math, and engineering.
- - Involve the public or industry, where possible, in research and education activities.
- - Give science and engineering presentations to the broader community (e.g., at museums and libraries, on radio shows, and in other such venues).
- - Present research and education results in formats useful to policy-makers, members of Congress, industry, and broad audiences.
- - Analyze, interpret, and synthesize research and education results in formats understandable and useful for non-scientists.