Alan J. Friedman, a longtime champion of informal science education who served as the director of the New York Hall of Science for 22 years, died May 4. He was 71.
During Mr. Friedman’s tenure at the science-technology center in New York City, the institution grew from a staff of three to 250 employees and gained international prominence for its work in teacher training and new technologies. In 2006, after retiring from the hall of science, he began consulting for museums, universities, and foundations around the world on museum development and science communication. He also served on the National Assessment Governing Board from 2006 until 2013 and was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Award for Public Understanding of Science. Mr. Friedman received a doctorate in physics from Florida State University in 1970.
