August 2024
On August 26, the Federal Register published a Request for Information from the National Science Foundation (NSF) seeking public input on the NSF Merit Review criteria, policy, and processes. NSF’s review process includes the consideration of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria. Detailed information on the Merit Review Principles, Criteria, and Elements are noted in the RFI.
The National Science Board (NSB) established the NSB-NSF Commission on Merit Review in December 2022 to reexamine the NSF merit review criteria. NSB last considered updates to the Merit Review criteria and process in 2010–2011. The 2022 CHIPS and Science Act included a provision encouraging NSF to conduct activities related to the implementation of the Broader Impacts criterion across NSF programs.
The RFI is seeking feedback in six areas:
The deadline for comments is September 20, with submissions to be made through a form provided by NSF.