Celebrating Mary Frank on Her Birthday: A Lifelong Advocate for Solar Cooking
Photo credit: Vanessa Hoheb
Photo credit: Alan Bigelow, Ph.D.
Mary Frank, a New York based activist and artist, has been a longtime supporter of Solar Cookers International (SCI) and one of the most inspiring and uncompromising advocates for solar cooking. Her commitment is rooted in an early recognition of how a simple, accessible tool can address some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
Her introduction to solar cooking dates to the late 1970s, during a visit to the New Mexico desert, where she encountered a solar cooker being used in an off-grid setting. The experience was immediate and revelatory. She quickly sought out SCI’s Sacramento office, acquired their early solar cooker models, and began building and testing her own. “This was before the climate crisis had become a reality. I immediately knew then that this was wonderful and important, although I had no idea then how truly impactful this tool would become. It was so incredibly simple and effective, and I started telling everyone I met about this great idea, this great tool—from friends to people on the street and the taxi drivers.”
Mary has consistently challenged the language used to describe our global environmental emergency. She finds the term ‘climate change’ misleadingly passive. “This urgent problem is not a thing of the future; it is happening to us NOW. We are experiencing profound effects of climate crisis all over the world.” For her, solar cooking is inseparable from issues of equity and safety. In many parts of the world, women and girls are placed at risk while gathering fuel for cooking, making clean, fossil-fuel-free solutions not only practical, but essential.
Through public demonstrations and educational initiatives, Mary has seen how quickly understanding follows direct experience. When people witness food prepared and water pasteurized using solar cookers, the concept becomes tangible and credible. What begins as an idea becomes a clear and achievable solution.
Mary is also an enthusiastic member of SCI's Legacy Circle. She wants to make sure that her values are supported well into the future.
Her voice and advocacy continue to affirm that meaningful change does not always require complex systems but often begins with simple tools and the willingness to speak the truth about their importance.
As Mary marks her 93rd birthday in 2026, SCI offers its deepest gratitude for her decades of advocacy and her unwavering belief in the power of solar cooking to improve lives around the world. Happy Birthday, Mary!
To make a donation to SCI in Mary’s honor, please click here.
Click here to learn more about Mary Frank’s life and artwork.
