United States National Science Foundation, Broader Impacts Merit Review Criterion
Abstract
In the early twenty-first century, science finds itself caught
in a dilemma that is arguably of its own making: its very
success in terms of understanding and controlling nature
means that it has given birth to powers that transcend the
traditional boundaries between science and society. Rather
than being viewed as essentially neutral in terms of values,
society increasingly views scientific knowledge as leading
to various types of winners and losers. The review criteria
for US National Science Foundation (NSF) proposals
offer an instructive case study of this increasingly
prominent dynamic.