Sarkis Acopian
From solar radio to engineering and philanthropy
Sarkis Acopian was an American inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist of Armenian descent, born in 1926. He studied mechanical engineering at Lafayette College in the United States, graduating in 1951.
The solar radio he developed in 1957 used light as its energy source. His Acopian company subsequently specialized in power supplies for scientific and industrial applications.
Acopian supported education and environmental conservation in both the United States and Armenia. His philanthropy included support for the publication of a field guide to the birds of Armenia. He died in 2007, leaving a legacy that combined invention, enterprise and responsibility toward the wider community.