Maria Telkes: A Trailblazer in the Field of Solar Energy Innovation

Celebrating the Inventive Genius of Maria Telkes, the Hungarian-American Biophysicist Who Changed the World

Maria Telkes is best known for her invention of the solar distiller and the first solar-powered heating system for residences.
Ms Telkes earned as many as 20 patents and developed several breakthrough technologies.
She was given the nickname “Sun Queen” for her pioneering work in the field of solar energy.
Ms Telkes studied physical chemistry in Budapest and completed her PhD in 1924.
She later worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a member of the Solar Energy Committee.
During World War II, Ms Telkes developed a solar distiller that converted seawater into fresh water for soldiers in the Pacific theater.
Ms Telkes became an American citizen in 1937 and continued to work on solar energy applications until the end of her career.
Along with American architect Eleanor Raymond, she designed and built the world’s first modern residence heated with solar energy in Dover, Massachusetts in 1948.
Ms Telkes passed away on December 2, 1995 in Budapest.