How to Create a NSF Highlight

We need your help in creating Highlights! We believe the communication of advances in earthquake engineering to those in non-technical fields such as teachers, students, government, industry practitioners and the public is an important shared responsibility of researchers, the NSF, and NEES Consortium, Inc. When your research is accessible in this way it allows us to better explain why investment in earthquake engineering is essential. We have provided a template for your use in providing "nuggets".

Highlights are crisp summaries and attention-grabbing images - static illustrations, animations or movies that highlight your noteworthy accomplishments. Graphics are very important in getting the message across to viewers. Narrated Highlights with text and graphic images in videos are also needed. Both text and graphics should be at the level of a press release, or what might be called an "8th grade level". The message should state what has been accomplished and the reason it is significant. If you plan to patent your work please work with your respective institution to ensure intellectual property rights are preserved.

If you are making a major presentation or will be published in a refereed journal we would like to include your newsworthy results on the NEES web site or in a NEES newsletter. Please send an email to John Whitmer, Director of EOT, at if you would like your work to be considered.

Highlight Submittal and Categorization
Please submit your nugget to John Whitmer, Director of EOT, at for categorization and posting on the NEES web site. The nuggets will be submitted to NSF during regular reporting cycles.


Additional Highlight Tips
  • Describe results in non-technical language avoiding jargon.
  • 8th grade level.
  • Why - explain the rationale for undertaking the research or project.
  • Describe the problem.
  • What was the role of fundamental knowledge/human resources in addressing the problem?
  • What - tell what you achieved, put it in context.
  • How - describe the process/approach, describe why it is unique.
  • Who Cares? Here you describe the societal impact/benefits of the new knowledge/educational outcome.
  • Length - no more than 2-3 paragraphs, or one long paragraph + graphics.