IIR creates group on refrigeration careers

Aug. 15, 2016

The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) has announced its new Working Group on Careers in Refrigeration (CaRe), chaired by Dr Catarina Marques.

At the 24th International Congress of Refrigeration in Yokohama, Japan, the IIR organized the second “Reception for Students and Young Researchers,” a student and senior researchers’ speed networking event; and its first Women in Refrigeration networking workshop. Both events, which served as forums, inspired the initiative to create a “Careers in Refrigeration” working group, as well as a sub-working on “Women in Refrigeration.”

Introduced into refrigeration during an internship at Bristol University, Marques will chair the new Working Group. She has a degree in food science and completed an industrial CASE award PhD at London South Bank University (LSBU), where she was previously a research fellow. She currently works at Adande as the engineering manager (foodservice) and is a member of the IIR and IOR (United Kingdom Institute of Refrigeration).

Marques led the first two IIR Receptions for Students and Young Researchers at IIR congresses in 2011 in Prague (Czech Republic) and in 2015 in Yokohama (Japan), and oversees many UK national events to promote the younger generation in the refrigeration industry.

The objectives of the new Working Group include developing and putting forward an international and national strategic plan to promote careers in refrigeration to the younger generation and women; building general awareness of the importance of the refrigeration industry, particularly to the younger generation; and identifying problems and obstacles that stop the younger generation from pursuing a career in refrigeration.

For more information, go to www.iifiir.org.