Join us for this one-day, multi-session workshop designed specifically for social and behavioral science faculty and research professionals seeking to strengthen the broader impacts of their work and develop more competitive external grant proposals.
Delivered by Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS), this program offers a progression of sessions that move from foundational concepts to interactive, hands-on collaboration. Participants may register for individual sessions based on their interests and availability.
Across sessions, participants will gain tools to:
- Align broader impacts with funding priorities
- Develop meaningful and measurable impact plans
- Communicate research impact effectively to diverse audiences
- Strengthen competitiveness for external funding opportunities
Meet the Facilitator
Dr. Susan Renoe
Dr. Susan Renoe, PhD, is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Development & Strategic Partnerships at the University of Missouri (MU). In her role, Dr. Renoe works to strengthen the university’s impact on the state of Missouri, the nation, and the world. She serves as Executive Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (OIA-2334906) and is an assistant professor of strategic communication in the MU School of Journalism.
For her contributions related to advancing research impact, Dr. Renoe was selected for membership in The Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (ACES), was named a Research Development Champion by the National Organization of Research Development Professionals and elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Significantly, Dr. Renoe’s AAAS Fellow citation was for “distinguished contributions and commitment to strengthening the societal impacts of science and engineering by building capacity, advancing scholarship, growing partnerships across multiple institutions, and promoting effective public engagement.”
Dr. Renoe earned an MA and PhD in education from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a BA and MA in anthropology from the University of Missouri.
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for faculty, research scientists, scholars, and research development professionals in the social and behavioral sciences who are interested in strengthening the broader impacts of their research.
Please Note: This event is not open to undergraduate or graduate students.
Schedule & Session Format
| Time | Session | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 AM | Check-in & Breakfast | — |
| 9:00-9:15 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Large Group |
| 9:15-10:15 AM | Broader Impacts Landscape in 2026 | Lecture-Style (Largest Capacity) |
| 10:15-10:30 AM | Break | — |
| 10:30-11:30 AM | Evaluating Broader Impacts | Interactive Lecture |
| 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch and Networking | — |
| 12:30-1:45 PM | Communicating Research Impact: Developing Your Impact Identity | Workshop-Style |
| 1:45-2:00 PM | Break | — |
| 2:00-3:45 PM | Collaborative Feedback Session | Small Group, Hands-On |
| 3:45-4:00 PM | Closing Remarks | — |
Cosponsored Workshop
The Designing Competitive Broader Impacts: Strategy, Evaluation, and Communication workshop is cosponsored by the Center for Social & Behavioral Science and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Office of Research.
Registration Information
Participants may register for individual sessions based on their interests and availability. Please review the session descriptions below and register for each session you plan to attend, including lunch. Early sessions are designed to accommodate larger audiences, while later sessions are intentionally limited to support hands-on collaboration and personalized feedback. Waitlists will be available for full sessions but do not guarantee a spot.
Designing Competitive Broader Impacts: Strategy, Evaluation, and Communication
Tuesday, May 5 / 8:30am – 4:00pm
iHotel and Illinois Conference Center / Alma Room
1900 S 1st Street, Champaign, IL 61820
Session 1: Broader Impacts Landscape in 2026
Expand your perspective on how research can benefit society. This session provides a clear introduction to the foundations of Broader Impacts, current NSF priorities, and the evolving BI landscape.
Session 2: Evaluating Broader Impacts
Explore strategies, tools, and resources that help you design strong BI plans and evaluate effective Broader Impacts activities.
Lunch Session: Networking and Informal Discussion
Connect with fellow participants and continue the conversation over lunch. This informal session offers an opportunity to share ideas, discuss challenges, and build connections with colleagues interested in strengthening the broader impacts of their research.
Session 3: Communicating Research Impact: Developing Your Impact Identity
Build your impact identity and learn strategies for communicating your research impact to a variety of audiences and stakeholders. This session will help you transform how you approach impact across your career.
Session 4: Collaborative Feedback Session
Strengthen your BI plan in a supportive, hands-on workshop. You’ll apply an evaluation tool, work collaboratively with peers, and receive targeted feedback.
Please note that registration for this session requires advance preparation. At a minimum, participants must have both (1) a one-page research proposal summary and (2) a full Broader Impacts statement.
Participants are also strongly encouraged to submit a draft of their full proposal, as the facilitator, Dr. Renoe, will be able to provide more substantive and tailored feedback with additional context.
To participate, all materials must be submitted to CSBScience@illinois.edu by Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. If you are unable to meet this requirement, please do not register for this session.
Questions?
If you have questions about the sessions, event details, required materials, or need assistance with registration, please contact csbscience@illinois.edu.
About ARIS
Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) is a national initiative dedicated to amplifying the impacts of research for the benefit of society. Founded in 2018 with support from the National Science Foundation, ARIS grew out of the NSF-funded National Alliance for Broader Impacts and now serves as a central hub for expertise and leadership in research impacts.
ARIS:
- Partners with the National Science Foundation and other U.S.-based and international organizations to prioritize research impacts for societal benefit
- Advances scholarship and builds a growing field of practice focused on research impacts
- Cultivates a cross-sector community spanning academic, educational, governmental, corporate, and nonprofit organizations
- Supports investigators and their partners in designing and achieving meaningful societal impact
