This proposal, from the American Astronomical Society ?AAS!, for "Astrophysical Research in the Countries of the Former Soviet Union ?FSU!, led by principal investigators Dr. S.E. Woosley, Dr. S. Wolff, Dr. J. Bahcall, and Dr. P. Boyce, follows up on a collaborative program of support for the beleaguered astronomy community in the FSU which began in 1991. This program consisted of small, $100 grants which eventually were awarded to 377 individuals, and astronomical journal subscriptions sent to 30 institutions. The 1992 program was supported entirely by AAS member contributions of $55,000. During 1993, the AAS proposes to continue this program -- and possibly for several years thereafter -- at an expanded level. Approximately the same number of journal subscriptions would be provided, but grants would be, on the average, four times larger. The AAS would also provide 25 to 30 personal computers of the PC-486 class. Donations from AAS members alone would be inadequate to support such a program in 1993. The goal of this AAS program is to keep a core of young, productive research astronomers and astrophysicists functioning within the FSU, and fulfills the NSF program objectives of advancing science by preserving the opportunity for leading experts in the U.S. and Russia to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
