Posted September 27, 2018 by Ashley Washburn
The National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering is expanding a pilot program launched last year aimed at broadening participation in the computing field.
The program requires applicants to submit a Broadening Participation in Computing plan as part of their proposals, or by the time of award, for designated medium- and large-sized projects. The goal is to increase representation of people from underrepresented groups – including women, Native Americans, Hispanics, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders and people with disabilities – in the computing field.
Beginning with deadlines in fall 2018, all medium and large proposals submitted to CISE’s core research programs in the following divisions must have a BPC plan in place by the time of award:
- Computer and Network Systems (CNS), NSF 18-569
- Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), NSF 18-568
- Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS), NSF 18-570
The requirement also applies to the following programs:
- Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC), NSF 18-567: Although this solicitation includes only a small proposal category, it notes that CISE may broaden the BPC requirement in the future. Proposers are therefore encouraged to include plans, or prepare to include plans, for broadening participation activities in their proposals.
- Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC), NSF 18-572: Medium projects must have in place, by time of the award, a BPC plan. Proposers to the small project category are encouraged to include plans or prepare to include plans.
- Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), NSF 18-538: For Frontier CPS proposals, a BPC plan is required in the Broader Impacts section of the proposal. For small and medium CPS proposals, BPC plans as part of the Broader Impacts section are strongly encouraged.
Proposers should consult the program solicitation for details about BPC plan requirements. Generally, they are required to be a one- to three-page supplementary document.
The Broadening Participation in Computing webpage and the FAQ site provide additional information.
Proposers should contact their NSF program officer with questions.
