Mária Telkes

Mária Telkes (December 12, 1900 – December 2, 1995) was a Hungarian-American biophysicist, engineer, and inventor who worked on solar energy technologies.

During World War II, she developed a solar water distillation device, deployed at the end of the war, which saved the lives of downed airmen and torpedoed sailors. Her goal was to create a version for villagers in poor and arid regions. Telkes, often called by colleagues The Sun Queen, is considered one of the founders of solar thermal storage systems. After the war, she became an associate research professor at MIT.

In the 1940s she and architect Eleanor Raymond created one of the first solar-heated houses, Dover Sun House, by storing energy each day. In 1953 they created a solar oven for people at various latitudes that could be used by children. In 1881, her father magyarized the family name to Telkes. In 1883 he converted to the Unitarian faith. In 1907 he was elevated to the Hungarian nobility, with the prefix kelenföldi.

From an early age, Telkes was interested in chemistry, making her own chemistry set at age 10. Her father encouraged her explorations. Raised in Budapest, she embarked on a journey in physical chemistry at the University of Budapest, earning her Bachelor of Arts in 1920. She said that book influenced her in deciding to go to the United States, since most solar energy work was being done there at that time. Her academic pursuits continued as she pursued a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of Budapest, where she was a lecturer in physics from 1923 to 1924, completing her doctoral studies in 1924.

Becoming an American citizen in 1937 marked a pivotal moment in Telkes's life. That same year, she transitioned to a research engineer role at Westinghouse Electricand Manufacturing Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She initially focused on developing metal alloys for thermocouples to convert heat into electricity.

However, its initial deployment was delayed until the end of the war because Hoyt C. Hottel repeatedly re-negotiated the manufacturing contracts for the machine.

Heat storage Telkes identified thermal energy storage as the most "critical problem" facing designers of a workable solar-heated house. with the project financed by philanthropist and sculptor Amelia Peabody. The system was designed so that Glauber's salt would melt in the sun, trap the heat, and then release it as it cooled and hardened.

In 1953 George Russell Harrison, dean of science at MIT, called for a review of the solar fund at MIT, due to concerns about its lack of productivity. The resulting report tended to promote Hottel's views and disparaged both Cabot and Telkes. Telkes was fired by MIT in 1953 after the report came out. The project criteria included: "it had to be able to cook, boil, and bake according to any local custom", "durable, portable, and simple to use and clean", cheap, and it must be able to be used in the early evening (para. 39). Though not the first solar oven invented of this type (in India one was being used in low quantities for $14), its "simplicity and cheapness" (para. 3) was its hallmark with a projected cost of $5 in 1954. Using a tightly insulated box, four mirrors, a glass window, and "a special heat-absorbing chemical"(para. 3), it reached within 30 minutes. She was appointed Solar Research Director in 1958 for Curtis-Wright Corp. and New York University, over joint and separate solar energy projects.

Telkes spent several years in industry. Initially, she was the director of solar energy at the Curtiss-Wright Company. Next, she worked on materials for use in extreme conditions, such as space, at Cryo-Therm (1961–1963) as Director of Research and Development (para. 5). This work included helping to develop materials for use in the Apollo mission and Polaris missiles, specifically to help maintain constant temperatures for optimum missile functionality.

In 1964 she spoke at the first International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists in New York.

"It is the things supposed to be impossible that interest me. I like to do things they say cannot be done." Mária Telkes, 1942. She continued inventing and filing patents into her 80s, and died December 2, 1995, at the age of 94, in her native Budapest, Hungary. 1977 – Building Research Advisory Board for “significant contributions to building science and technology 2012 – Induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame

The asteroid 390743 Telkesmária is named in her honor.

Telkes' work was recognized in a Google Doodle on December 12, 2022.

She is the subject of the documentary film The Sun Queen which first aired on American Experience on April 4, 2023.

She was a member of the Chemical Society, the Electrochemical Society, the Solar Energy Society (Board of Directors), Sigma Xi, and the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Society of Women Engineers.

Telkes published over 100 papers, wrote book chapters, and ultimately some 50 patents. spanning diverse methods related to heating, cooling, and heat storage technologies. Her contributions to the field of solar energy earned her the moniker of the "Sun Queen".

“I have been intensively interested in Chemistry and Physics during my high school days. I aimed to develop new energy sources, especially the use of Solar Energy. I have studied with this aim in mind, and nothing could have stopped me from working in this field. If I have succeeded to some extent, I feel that I enjoyed my scientific work more than any other activity.”

In addition, Telkes took steps to help protect the environment after World War II. At the United Nations Scientific Conference on the Conservation and Utilization of Resources, held between August 17 through September 6, 1949, Telkes presented a paper and spoke on the importance and future of solar energy as an alternative energy source, providing examples of solar heating in houses. Telkes said "Solar energy is our greatest untapped energy resource and future development in its utilization should be regarded as one of the most important and fruitful projects.”

Telkes's outstanding contributions were acknowledged through numerous accolades, including the prestigious Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award and the Charles Greely Abbot Award from the International Solar Energy Society. Later in her career, at the age of 77, Telkes received a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, also an award from Building Research Advisory Board.