Persone: Maria Telkes (1900-1995)

“You see, sunshine isn’t lethal—except, perhaps in the form of sunburn.”

Dr. Maria Telkes (1900-1995) was born in the country of Hungry. She became interested in solar energy while she was a high school student. She earned a PhD. in physical chemistry. Later she moved to the United States and became an associate research professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She also held a job at New York University College of Engineering.

      

Dr. Maria Telkes is one of the most famous female solar energy inventors. Her solar oven can heat up to 350 degrees and can hold heat up to an hour after the sun goes down. It can so anything from roast chicken to bake bread or cake. Her goal was for these ovens to be used in deserts in developing countries where there is a lot of sunshine, but not a lot of fuel.

      

Later, the Ford Foundation gave her a $45,000 grant to improve her already existing solar oven. She improved it so it could be used by children safely and wouldn’t scorch foods.

      

She also participated in building two solar houses, both in Massachusetts. The house that was built in Dover, Massachusetts has a heating system designed by her. The house was designed by architect Eleanor Raymond and was paid for by a wealthy Boston sculptor, Amelia Peabody. The house is still in use. Some of her other inventions and discoveries are listed below.

      

Inventions & Discoveries

-- Solar stills

-- Solar driers

-- Thermoelectric generators

-- A portable distilling system using solar energy to change salt water into fresh water on life rafts.

-- Solar oven

-- Designed the heating system for a solar house in Dover, Massachusetts.

-- Participated in the building of a different solar house also in Massachusetts. The solar oven and the two solar houses are talked about in the biography above.)

      

Awards & Honors

      

-- 1945: Dr. Maria Telkes received a certificate from OSRD for her development of a portable solar distiller for life rafts.

-- 1952: She won the first Achievement award ever given by SWE (Society of Women Engineers) for her work with solar energy.

-- 1977: She received the Charles Greeley Abbot Award. (The American Solar Energy Society gives this award.)