While these questions must be considered for each subdomain, they also must be considered for each subdomain space. The subdomain space includes as well as represents smaller tasks, items, etc., which could be used, completed or done to accomplish an aspect of each respective subdomain.
Therefore, the subdomain space feature of the BICF suggests that there is an almost infinite set of activities that could be performed to accomplish any aspect of or a subdomain itself. This aligns with the perceived endless number of activities that could be used to accomplish a broader impact for NSF (CN4). This also includes the activities that could be done for any other type of foundation, agency, and organization with different broader impacts foci.
Both the major domains and their subdomains are all guided by an individual’s or a group’s professional/broader impacts identity and lead to the development of an individual’s or group’s impact identity(CN5). “Impact Identity/ies” was originally coined by Julie Risien at Oregon State University[12], [13].
Within this framework, supporting each subdomain in their respective domain spaces are five basic structures. The five basic structures that undergird these subdomains and that are found in each major domain are: a) professional/broader impacts identity, which is the guiding principle for the five basic structures; b) outcomes; c) outputs, d) activities; and e) inputs [14], [15]. Figure 4 (Fig. 4) shows these 5 basic structures in the context of the BICF. Note: These “Five (5) Basic Structures of Broader Impacts” are also used to write a broader impacts narrative section in an NSF proposal. This will be discussed at another time.