Under Construction

Welcome to the 
Harvard University Science Center

Table of Contents

• Visitor & General Interest Information about the Science Center
• Science Center Building Operations
• Research Lecture Series
• Shortcut to Room Scheduling
• Other Departments housed in the Science Center
• Information about FAS Sponsored Research Conduct & Administration
• Information about showing movies at Harvard, specifically student organizations at the Science Center

General Science Center Information

The link that led to extensive information about the building and its construction and the artwork it contains is currently unavailable on the FAS web site.  General information about the Science Center is included with the University's virtual tour.  Just scroll through the buildings until you get to the Science Center.

What's in the Science Center?

The Science Center is home to three academic departments (History of Science, Mathematics, and Statistics); as well as the Cabot Science Library; FAS Computer Services; the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning; the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments; FAS Media and Technology Services ; Harvard Printing and Publications Services; the Greenhouse Cafeteria; the Harvard Yard Mail Center; the Prep Room Lecture Media Services; Lecture Demonstration Services; the Electronics Shop; teaching laboratories for astronomy, biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, geology, and physics; five lecture halls; twenty general-use classrooms; innumerable offices; and other resources. The basement and first floor are open 24 hours a day; access to the rest of the building after 5:00 p.m. is limited to Harvard University ID holders and others with proper authorization.

How do I find a certain room in the Science Center?

Science Center rooms are numbered according to a pattern. Basement room numbers begin with a "B"; all other numbers begin with the floor number. Rooms are numbered sequentially on each floor from the west end of the building (near Littauer) toward the east end. So Science Center 216 is on the second floor, at the Oxford Street end of the building. The lecture halls almost follow a pattern: A through D are labeled from west to east, and Hall E is located in the basement.

What is the Science Center Executive Committee?

The function of the Executive Committee is to advise and consult with the Director of the Science Center regarding matters related to undergraduate science education, and take initiatives on such matters pertinent to this mandate.
Click here for the list of Executive Committee Members.

What are the Research Lectures?

The Public Research Lecture Series was begun in 1973; six times a year, one Harvard science professor is invited to discuss his or her research. Click here for the current schedule of Research Lectures.

What does the Science Center look like?

Click here for a photo of the Science Center, taken from inside Harvard Yard.

A few of the Director's Office Services

The following are among the services provided by the Science Center Director's Office.

 

• Room Scheduling

  Email: sc_sched@fas.harvard.edu (Ron Cooper, room scheduling)

  Science Center 123. Telephone: 6-2122; FAX 6-7400

  Hours: M - F 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  Scheduling of all non-departmental classrooms, lecture halls, and public space in the Science Center (except the specialized computer classrooms, SC 120 and B11C, which are scheduled through FAS Computer Services at 5-9000).

• Building Operations (Building Manager's Office)

  Building Manager: Andrew LaPlume

  Email: laplume@fas.harvard.edu (Andrew LaPlume, Building Manager)

  Science Center, Room 125. Telephone: 5-2653; FAX 5-9996

  Hours: M - F 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  Building Services Coordinator: Chris McNeill

  Email: mcneill@fas.harvard.edu (Chris McNeill, Building Services Coordinator)

  Science Center, Room 124. Telephone: 5-7803; FAX 5-9996

  Hours: M - F 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  Operations Administrative Coordinator: Ron Cooper

  Email: cooper2@fas.harvard.edu (Ron Cooper, Operations Administrative Coordinator)

  Science Center, Room 123. Telephone: 6-2122; FAX 5-9996

  Hours: M - F 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  Responsible for the oversight of the building's electrical, mechanical, plumbing, heating, and cooling systems. This office also handles requests for repairs, painting, custodial issues, leaks, temperature complaints, etc.
  

• Science Center Lecture Media Services (the "Prep Room")

  Email: prep@fas.harvard.edu

  Science Center Basement. Telephone: 5-5357; FAX 5-5304

Hours: Prep Room: M - F 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Electronics Shop: M - F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m

Handles all media requests for courses or special events in the Science Center. Also operates the Electronics Shop, which handles repairs for all audiovisual equipment used in support of FAS courses, as well as repair and maintenance of all Science Center classroom and laboratory equipment. Other equipment may be repaired as time and resources permit.

• Lecture Demo Services

Email: rueckner@fas.harvard.edu

Science Center Basement. Telephone 5-5824

Hours: M - F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

A team of physicists and chemists who develop, construct and present scientific demonstrations for lectures in the Harvard Science Center.

• Shipping and Receiving (Mailroom)

  Email: nkerkach@fas.harvard.edu (Nassim Kerkache, mailroom coordinator)

  Science Center B-10b. Telephone 5-5347; FAX 5-5304

  Hours: M - F 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ; Sat 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

  The Shipping and Receiving department, located in room B-10b of the basement, receives and processes all incoming mail and packages for the Science Center. The facility also incorporates the Harvard Yard Mail Center, which handles and sorts mail for all the Yard dormitories.

• Committee on the Use of Human Subjects

  Email: cuhs@fas.harvard.edu

  50 Church St 5th Floor Telephone 6-2847

  This standing committee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences is responsible for review and approval of research involving living human beings as subjects, conducted by FAS investigators (faculty, staff, or student). Details of the committee's operation and the application procedure can be found at the section regarding the use of human subjects in research on the FAS sponsored research page.
  

• Lost and Found

  The Director's Office is 1 of 3 main locations for lost and found in the building.  Any items left in lecture halls will be taken to the Prep Room.  Students looking for such items should go downstairs to the Prep Room or should phone 5-5357.  Items left in the Cabot Science Library will be kept there and people should call 5-5351.  Items left in the arcade, in the Greenhouse, or classrooms should be turned in at the Director's Office and people may call for them at Room 123, or call 496-2122.

Other Science Center Departments