Broader Impacts
The design, construction, operation and decommissioning of each NRAO facility presents unique opportunities for the Observatory to drive positive change that will benefit society, or have broader impacts, beyond the groundbreaking astronomy research for which it has been designed.
The NRAO strives to be a diverse and inclusive Observatory respected as a leader in the responsive, innovative and ethical way we use our scientific research to benefit society and broader impacts should be an integral aspect of our organizational culture.
This page provides NRAO staff, students and collaborators with more information about the practice of broader impacts and resources to help professionalize their own broader impacts work.
Figure 1: A representation of the Broader Impacts program.
Project Components
The broader impacts goals of the NRAO are aligned with that of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and support the organizational vision, mission and goals of the Observatory.
- Build equitable and mutually-beneficial partnerships
- Increase public scientific literacy and public engagement with STEM
- Improve STEM education at all levels
- Enhance infrastructure for research and education
- Increase participation in STEM by minoritized groups
- Build a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce
- Protect natural, cultural, and scientific heritage
- Drive socio-economic development
- Increase the economic competitiveness of the US through innovation and commercialization
- Improve planetary defense and national security
Examples of Good Broader Impacts
The examples included below have been selected to demonstrate the diversity of broader impacts projects and are not necessarily related to astronomy:
NSF Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Program: Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University in Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES)
UCAR|NCAR CORE Awards
Community College Innovation Challenge
Local impact study of HERA shows direct benefits of radio astronomy infrastructure
Kitt Peak National Observatory Hosts Open Night for the Tohono O’odham Nation
Astronomers, Satellite Internet Provider Develop New System to Share the Sky
Invisible Realms Revealed: Radio Technology Expands Frontiers of Astronomy and Medicine
Associated Universities, Inc. and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory celebrate success of Chilean students in pursuit of STEM careers
Can Astronomers Use Radar to Spot a Cataclysmic Asteroid?
Broader Impacts Training
Select the Broader Impacts training module in which you are interested below:
Introduction to Broader Impacts (Available October 2024)
Building Equitable Partnerships for Broader Impacts (Available December 2024)
Designing a Broader Impacts Project (Available March 2025)
Writing a Broader Impacts Plan (Available June 2025)
Broader Impacts Reporting
Staff, students and collaborators can self-report the details of their broader impacts works using the Broader Impacts Self-Reporting Form available here (NRAO Login required).
Step-by-step instructions for how to record your broader impacts time worked on Costpoint are available here.
This initiative is funded by the NRAO Director's Office.
If you have any questions or need more information about this program, please click the button below.