Albert H. Teich died April 26, 2022, after a fall and ten days in intensive care in N. Bethesda, MD. He received his B.S. in Physics (1964) and Ph.D. in Political Science (1969) from MIT. He was always extremely proud of his association with MIT, and liked to describe himself as “a doctor, but not the kind who helps people.”
Professionally, Al was involved with science policy issues such as visa and immigration policy, research and development in the federal budget, climate change, and human rights. He was most currently a Research Professor of Science, Technology & International Affairs at the Institute for International Science and Technology Policy in the Elliott School of George Washington University in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the GW faculty, he was director of Science & Policy Programs for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where he was responsible for the Association’s activities in science and technology policy for 32 years, managed a staff of about 40 people, and served as a key spokesman on science policy issues. He published Technology and the Future (originally Technology and Man’s Future) in 1971, revising the compilation of essays through 12 editions, ending in 2012, and it remains in use as a coursebook of readings in science and technology issues.
While at AAAS he contributed to numerous articles and books, made innumerable presentations, testified multiple times before Congressional committees, and participated on advisory committees in the U.S. and around the world. He became a Fellow of AAAS in 1986, received an Award for Scientific Achievement in Science Policy from the Washington Academy of Sciences in 2004, and became an honorary member of the Washington Science Diplomats Club the same year. He was a constant presence in Washington science policy circles, and he was frequently sought after as a commentator and advisor on issues related to “science and technology policy” and “science in society.”
He was for many years a member and then Chairman of the Board of Governors of the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation and was also chair of the related American Friends of the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation. He was a member of the advisory committee to the S&T Fellows Program of the California Council for Science and Technology, and a charter member of the World Technology Network.
He was the son of Holocaust survivors Maurice and Ina Teich. They originally met in Europe, were engaged within three weeks, fled the continent, emigrated to Cuba, and had to come separately to the US because they were under different immigration quotas. Their story had a lasting impact on Al’s life.
Al was an avid amateur photographer, specializing in photos taken through a kaleidoscope, as well as travel photos. He visited about 60 countries during his career, lecturing and advising government agencies and representatives. In the process, he acquired an extremely large group of international friends and colleagues. He also became chair of the photography committee at the National Press Club in Washington, DC for several years, a role he thoroughly enjoyed. A collection of his photographs can be found at www.pbase.com/al309.
He was an early adopter of electric vehicle technology, acquiring his first Tesla in 2012, well before they were popular. Solar panels for the house were added in 2015. Al was a recreational swimmer for most of his adult life. From growing up in Chicago, he was a big Cubs fan; from going to MIT and spending time in Boston, he also became an avid Red Sox fan.
Married to Jill H. Pace in 1989, he had three children (Mitch and Ken, with his first wife, Carolyn Richmond, and a daughter, Samantha, with Jill) and four grandchildren.