National Alliance for Broader Impacts Summit Features Arts and Sciences Deans

The National Alliance for Broader Impacts (NABI), a network comprised of universities, professional societies, and informal science organizations, held its annual summit on Penn’s campus this past April. NABI is a community of practice focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of science communication and public engagement programming—generally designed to meet the National Science Foundation’s Broader Impacts criteria: improving society through scientific research, building and diversifying the STEM workforce, and innovating for the future.

The theme of this year’s summit was “Broadening Participation.” The event brought together more than 100 broader-impact professionals from around the country—including Penn Arts and Sciences’ own Steven Fluharty, Dean and Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience; and Larry Gladney, Associate Dean for the Natural Sciences, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Professor for Faculty Excellence, and Professor of Physics and Astronomy—to talk about successful and ongoing efforts to increase the diversity of students and professionals in STEM-related fields of study.