Assistance with planning and implementing effective education and outreach activities

Many agencies and organizations that provide research funding include outreach and education as a critical component of successful research proposals. The National Science Foundation has this as a “broader impacts” requirement. The National Pacific Research Board requires an education and outreach project component that communicates your results to non-scientific audiences.

Other agencies provide direction to address community involvement or the integration of traditional and local ecological knowledge. The intent of these requirements is that you identify the significance of your research to society and you communicate your results possible to the audiences most directly affected by your research and also as broadly as possible to the general public.

While you might find these requirements challenging, you will likely find that engaging in outreach and education is extremely rewarding. It’s your opportunity to share your knowledge and enthusiasm for the work you do and find other people outside the scientific community who care about the questions you are asking and the results. You can also inspire the next generation of scientists and scientifically-literate citizens.

COSEE Alaska can provide assistance with planning and achieving the broader impacts of your outreach and education efforts in the ocean sciences. Use the resources below and contact Marilyn Sigman, COSEE Alaska Program Manager, (msigman at alaska.edu) for help in finding education partners, preparing specific proposals, and designing effective education and outreach activities.

Resources

The Educational and Public Outreach Guide published by The Oceanography Society provides basic information for engaging in these activities. Topics include preparing education and outreach proposals, seeking out partnerships with educators and others, getting feedback, and frequently asked questions.

Addressing the “broader impacts” requirements in National Science Foundation proposals

• View NSF's Broader Impacts Information (PDF, 55 KB) and Examples (PDF, 31 KB)
• View NSF's Ocean Sciences (OCE) Active Funding Opportunities and deadlines
• Learn more from the COSEE NOW series of four "Broaden Your Impacts" webinars
• Broader Impacts: An overview
• Broader Impacts: What’s the big idea
• Examples of Broader Impact: A panel discussion
• Broader Impact Project Evaluation

Addressing education and outreach requirements in North Pacific Research Board research proposals

The North Pacific Research Board requires that research project proposals include a detailed plan and materials for communicating research results to non-scientific audiences, with a minimum of $2,000 for these activities in the proposal budget and budget detail in the budget narrative.

See “COSEE Alaska Tips for NPRB Proposals” (PDF, 105 KB) and examples of outreach tools used by researchers for specific research NPRB projects.