Broader impact activities developed within this CCI address two major national concerns in scientific research: 1) moving scientific breakthroughs from the laboratory into the mainstream marketplace and 2) increasing the numbers of students pursuing careers in STEM fields, especially among populations that are currently underrepresented. Our CCI has embarked on a multiyear outreach and educational program with the following primary goals:

• To transform major breakthroughs stemming from CCI research into valuable innovations
• To support integrated research and education that directly incorporates innovation for CCI students and postdocs
• To recruit students to the field of chemistry from underrepresented groups
• To educate the public on the importance of polymer nanoscience

We have developed a small number of promising broader impact projects (BIPs) that are each targeted to achieve these goals. Descriptions of these BIPs and of our Center management plan are provided on the subpages hyperlinked below. Each BIP is targeted to address one or more areas of need that have been identified by the NSF, as follows:

•  Education and Professional Training (undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs impacted by research and university teaching)
•  Broadening Participation (increasing participation by members of underrepresented groups)
•  Public Outreach (engaging the public, increasing visibility and public appreciation of chemistry, evaluating effectiveness) 
•  Innovation (dissemination of research results, connecting research to economic competitiveness)