BREWing better broader impacts
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BREWing better broader impacts nsf.gov/od/oia/special/broaderimpacts By Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, Matthew D. Stilwell, Nicholas L. Abbott, and Wendy C. Crone
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he US National Science Foundation (NSF) requires all grant-funded research projects to include a “Broader Impacts” component, that is, the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.1,2 However, achieving the broader impacts mission with full participation from all members is a significant challenge faced by research centers, as well as other large groups of researchers who work together in departments, laboratory groups, and training grants (groups of trainees at an institution). Large, NSF-funded research centers, such as the Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs), have a unique opportunity to achieve broader impacts by using researchers’ collective, interdisciplinary expertise to assist in both the development of novel products and
programs and the evaluation of their scientific content. This type of engagement is particularly valuable to the creation of innovative and accurate educational products that can engage people outside of the research field with concepts related to cutting-edge research, help them to understand the importance of science and engineering, and stimulate the future workforce’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To engage participation of all center members in educational products development, the MRSEC at the University of Wisconsin–Madison created the Breakthrough Research and Education Workshop (BREW). BREW combines cutting-edge research presentations with an education workshop focused on the development of novel, research-inspired educational content.
University of Wisconsin–Madison MRSEC members engage with and evaluate an educational activity that is under development during the 2019 BREW.
The structure of BREW
Since 2012, the Wisconsin MRSEC has held an annual BREW to enhance collaboration and build community among all center members, including faculty, staff, postdoctoral research associates, and graduate research assistants. BREW is a half-day, all-member event, beginning with 3–5 research highlight presentations followed by an interactive educational workshop. Faculty members introduce the research, and then their graduate students and postdoctoral associates present short vignettes on their contributions to that area of research. A primary function of the MRSEC program is to train early-career researchers, and BREW provides an excellent opportunity for these researchers to practice their scientific presentation skills. The goal of the interactive education workshop is to leverage the research talks as inspiration for new educational activities or expansion of existing activities. The workshop is facilitated by the Center’s education/outreach (E/O) faculty and staff, and is typically scheduled for the same length of time as all of the research presentations together, emphasizing the importance of education
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