LSBU cooling experts win prestigious industry recognition
Two London South Bank University (LSBU) academics have been recognised for their expertise in cooling at a prestigious industry event.
The achievements of Professor Judith Evans and Dr Catarina Marques – both from LSBU’s renowned Heating and Cooling Research Group – were celebrated at the Institute of Refrigeration’s (IOR) annual dinner on 12 February. They were two of five experts to win awards.
Professor Evans won the J&E Hall International Gold Medal, recognising the most noteworthy practical contribution to innovation in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technology. She received the medal for her exceptional contribution to energy and carbon reduction, by optimising refrigeration performance throughout the food cold chain.
Her work has consistently combined academic excellence with practical application, addressing real-world challenges in energy use, carbon reduction, food safety and food quality. A major focus has been the optimisation of refrigeration systems across food processing, cold storage, transport retail and consumer handling, in both developed and developing countries.
Professor Evans said: “I am thrilled to receive this award. It is a huge reward that reflects not just my work, but the work of the whole team involved in cold chain refrigeration. I would particularly like to thank all the people who encouraged me into a career in refrigeration and have supported me over the years.”
This work is also shaping industry practice and public debate. Her research on raising frozen food storage temperatures to minus 15 degrees has attracted global attention and was presented at COP28 in Dubai. Professor Evans has contributed extensively to international and national standards, the development of guidance and road maps, and the delivery of collaborative projects.
Her colleague, Dr Catarina Marques, won the Lightfoot Medal, awarded for the best IOR talk and paper of the previous year, made jointly to Dr Dermot Cotter for their paper “Energy Usage in the Industrial Refrigeration Sector: Food, Drink, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Refrigeration”. This award is decided by a vote of IOR members. The authors donated their £500 prize to the IOR President’s Fund, to be invested into support and advance training across the industry.
Dr Marques said: “Receiving the Lightfoot Medal is a real privilege and a meaningful recognition from industry peers. I am delighted that the paper has been so well received, and by donating the prize to the President’s Fund, we hope to support training, collaboration and ongoing improvement across the refrigeration sector.”
The Institute of Refrigeration was established in 1899 to provide a central resource for people from all over the world to improve the application of refrigeration and allied fields for the general good of society with particular emphasis on environment, efficiency, safety and innovation.