Howard University Beltsville

What secrets does Howard University Beltsville hold? This sprawling campus, nestled 12 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., in suburban Maryland, whispers tales of transformation. Howard University Beltsville occupies 110 acres, a vast expanse where buildings occupy less than 5% of the land. This makes it a unique environment, ideal for atmospheric research. The land’s history is layered, beginning as part of a post-World War II civil defense system. Later, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) used the land. Finally, through a Public Benefit Conveyance, a portion, about 108 acres, was transferred to Howard University. The remaining acreage went to the University of the District of Columbia. Originally the property was about 250 acres. Howard University Beltsville’s story is intertwined with scientific pursuit. The Medical College and the Department of Physics and Astronomy were among the first university units to utilize the campus. The Biology Department, specializing in botany, also conducted field trips and research here in the 1980s and 1990s. The Animal Research Building, now home to atmospheric science research, once housed the medical school’s animal research program. In the 1990s, a fascinating transition occurred. The abandoned 30-inch Cassegrain reflector telescope, donated by NASA, was repurposed. Drs. Venable and Thorpe, supported by NASA’s Center for the Study of Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Atmospheres, transformed it into a research-grade Lidar system. This system was designed to measure atmospheric ozone using a KrF laser housed in the Coude’ laboratory. This innovation marked the beginning of the Howard University Atmospheric Observatory. It paved the way for the development of the Howard University Raman Lidar (HURL) to measure atmospheric water vapor. Under the leadership of Drs. Joseph and Morris, with support from NOAA and NASA, atmospheric science research flourished at Howard University Beltsville in the early 2000s. Howard University Beltsville stands as a testament to adaptability and scientific innovation. Its open spaces and specialized facilities contribute to a unique research environment, continuing to unlock the mysteries of our atmosphere.