Some scientists are not pleased with proposed new “broader impact” requirements that may be added to the National Science Foundation's grant review process. At a hearing on Tuesday (July 26) before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, scientists debated the proposed new criteria, which include nine "national goals" that NSF projects should "collectively" advance, including increased economic competitiveness and improved K-12 science education. At present, the NSF open-endedly asks researchers to describe how their research will benefit society.
At the hearing, Keith Yamamoto, vice chancellor for research at the University of California, San Francisco, argued that it is inappropriate for reviewers to be asked to "step outside of their areas of expertise" and to "make guesses" as to whether proposals are ...
