But beyond these relatively small outlays, Harvard can not pour much more support into the lab, because the amount needed would represent a quantum leap over what any university could realistically afford.
"We just can't do it here anymore. To do the experiments in high energy physics requires a billion-dollar facility," says Dean of the Division of Applied Sciences Paul C. Martin '52.
Research today costs so much that "Harvard really couldn't make a dent financially." Pipkin says. "It's just impossible for them to fund all the experiments."
As a remedy, aside from conducting experiments-elsewhere, the scientists have been looking to the government for more money, but in vain.
The size of government grants have been diminishing with the increased budget consciousness of many politicians, Wilson says.
"We don't get much help from our Congressmen and Senators," he says, adding that government grants have not even kept up with inflation.
Moreover, the University will not put any more funds into high energy Physics, Leahy says. "If the government pulled out the program would terminate immediately," he add.
Harvard, however, is not the only university facing this problem as professors at other universities agree that the experience is a common one.
Labeling the lack of money "a pervasive problem." Princeton physics professor Val Fitch says that the lack of funds "simply means a slower pace for research. It's a linear relationship."
Because of the financial trends high energy physics labs are no longer being constructed by single universities. Instead, they are designed created, and operated by large university consortiums, combined with the government, and are made available to scientists throughout the world.
Some of the major labs now used by Harvard professors include Fermilab in Batavia, III., the CERN lab in Geneva, and the high energy physics lab at Cornell University. Harvard is one of 80 institutions to help run and utilize Fermilab, where both Pipkin and Wilson conduct experiments.
One Harvard Nobel laureate, Higgins Professor of Physics Sheldon I. Glashow, is currently working with officials in Texas on designing another multi-billion-dollar facility.
The commute that physics today requires, scientists agree, is a definite drawback.
"We must compromise ourselves as teachers and researchers when we go to other places." Rubbia says. "All we have are our ideas and ourselves."
While professors say they understand that constructing operating high priced equipment like a state-of-the-art accelerator is financially out of the question for Harvard, they add that small additions Harvard can provide may make a big difference.
For example, Pipkin cites additions in staff and computer facilities as two areas that would cost the University relatively little money, but would make a noticeable difference.
Also, since travelling has become essential to conducting experiments, additional funding for transportation would be a great help, he adds.