Summers spoke in his installation speech in October about the importance of the biological revolution.

In a separate section of the speech, he highlighted the opportunity provided by University land in Allston.

Now, five months later, the two issues have emerged as deeply interconnected.

For several years University planners have recognized that the necessary expansion of FAS science would require space, and a significant amount of it.

Land in Allston was purchased to relieve over-crowding in Cambridge.

Administrators say that now, for the first time, plans are being considered that would directly link science with Allston.

The University’s Physical Planning Committee, which is charged with investigating options for Allston, is considering among two other scenarios, a plan in which at least some of Harvard’s science departments move.

This “science scenario” has received increased attention in recent months, and University administrators say this focus has come straight from the top. Summers says he has put an emphasis on having “multiple options” on the table.

While they say it is too early to speak of specifics, Hyman and other administrators say the science option would seek to both provide the necessary space for growth and help foster collaboration.

New facilities in Allston could combine FAS scientists across departments. Other suggestions have included moving all or parts of the School of Public Health as well.

“We do need to ask whether a new shared space makes sense,” Hyman says.

Summers, Hyman and others at the schools say that some aspects of this science scenario make a lot of sense.

A competing “professional school scenario” in which the law school and Graduate School of Education—among others—move to Allston, does not necessarily solve the space woes for the sciences within FAS.

A converted Langdell library does not make a good wet lab, Hyman says.

And Cambridge residents have said they are less opposed to Harvard building new classroom space in the city thanScience Center-like monstrosities.