Over the course of five decades, the renowned chemical engineer and pioneer Mária Telkes dedicated her considerable talents to exploring solar energy, culminating in the construction of the first modern house heated effectively by the sun’s rays. During her tenure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she encountered gender-based underestimation and obstruction from male supervisors and peers. Nonetheless, she continued her groundbreaking work with persistence and resilience. In the accompanying black and white photograph, a woman stands facing away from the camera. She appears contemplative, gazing into the distance. She is elegantly dressed in a fur coat, giving an impression of sophistication and determination. The architectural lines of the building behind her complement her poised stance.
