9214500 Shapiro The Harvard College Observatory provides a broad research program in astronomy and astrophysics, collaborating with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in comprising the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The Harvard College Observatory also provides substantial support to the Harvard Department of Astronomy. Staff and students participate in a wide range of research activities that involve ground-based radio and optical observations of cosmic sources, balloon-borne devices for x-ray observations, and theoretical and laboratory astrophysics. The Institute for Theoretical Atomic and Molecular Physics, of the Center for Astrophysics, attracts visiting scientists and talented graduate students to pursue research in atomic and molecular physics. High School students are afforded the opportunity to learn astronomy by enrolling in Project STAR, a pre-college program at the Center for Astrophysics, designed to teach physics and mathematics using examples from astronomy. Current climate conditions at the Harvard Observatory, an interconnected complex of six buildings, constructed between 1846 and 1972, have been a major impediment in conducting research. Funds have been requested to upgrade the twenty year old chilled water plant and distribution system of the Observatory. The modifications of the facility will consist of: repiping the chilled water system, recommissioning the reheat system, installing a direct digital control system for sensing control and monitoring of the chilled water and heating systems, installing circuit chillers and pumps, and replacing fan coils. The upgrades will provide effective year round cooling and climate control to the facility, creating a productive research environment for staff and students. ***
