MIT has established the Solomon Buchsbaum AT&T Research Fund, honoring the late Dr. Buchsbaum, a graduate alumnus of MIT.
Over a period of several decades, Dr. Buchsbaum, senior vice president of AT&T Bell Laboratories, played a major role in shaping the nation's science policy. He was a strong advocate for corporate support of university research and was a special friend of MIT where he received the PhD in physics in 1957.
The fund, newly renamed to honor Dr. Buchsbaum, is endowed with $1.75 million, using MIT funds and research grants made by AT&T over the past decade. The original agreement was established a decade ago by Dr. Buchsbaum and the then provost, Institute Professor John M. Deutch, now on leave serving as director of the US Central Intelligence Agency.
"The endowed fund will generate approximately $90,000 in income each year, which will be used for the support of young MIT faculty," said Provost Joel Moses in a letter to Dr. Buchsbaum's widow, Phyllis Buchsbaum. "It gratifies me greatly to inform you of this event. I knew Sol for 25 years and held him in the greatest regard. He was one of the nation's giants in science policy and we miss his influence and wisdom enormously. It thus gives me and MIT special pleasure to name the fund after Sol."
Mrs. Buchsbaum replied: "I was deeply touched when I read your letter. I remember Sol and John Deutch working together on many committees. I remember, also, Sol's work at AT&T on behalf of MIT. My family and I are elated to know that through this fund, young faculty will be able to carry on MIT's high standards and will know Sol's name. Sol would be very proud."
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on January 24, 1996.
