In this blog, Lisa Waters highlights the changes in the industry she has witnessed through her experience with the IOR. We hope that in 20 years time someone else will be writing of positive change again. More growth of inclusivity in our engineering industries. How boring life would be if we were all the same!

We can never have enough contributors, so please get in touch if you would like to contribute a blog.  It’s a great way to connect to the industry. Thanks again to Lisa.  The Truth Is Out There.

So, what is the Scully Effect? Let me explain. It’s the name given to a phenomenon that saw a rise in the number of women entering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers after The X-Files hit TV screens in the early 1990s. The show’s lead character, FBI Agent Dana Scully, a smart, capable, and scientifically-minded woman, became an unexpected role model. According to research by the Geena Davis Institute, 63% of women who were familiar with Scully said she increased their confidence in pursuing a STEM career. It’s a striking example of how much representation really does matter.

When I came to work at the Institute of Refrigeration, almost 20 years ago, it was rare, very rare, to see a woman presenting a technical paper or sitting on a panel at a RACHP event. In fact, most of the time, if there was a woman in the room, she was probably handing out name badges or pouring the coffee. That’s just how it was. Fast forward to today, and things look very different. Women are now speaking at conferences, chairing panels, contributing to technical working groups and raising the profile of the brilliant top-notch female engineers doing amazing work in the field. It’s progress, and while there’s still a way to go, it’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge how far we’ve come.

This kind of change doesn’t happen by chance. It’s taken years of hard work, encouragement, and people stepping up to make space for others. The visibility of women in technical roles is absolutely critical. When one woman gets up to speak or present at a conference, she doesn’t just share her knowledge; she sends a message. That message is: “You can be here too.” The Scully Effect proves visibility is vital, especially for girls and young women looking at careers in STEM.

A huge part of this shift is thanks to the support of networks like the Women in RACHP (WiRACHP). I can honestly say being involved in this network has brought me nothing but friendship and encouragement. It’s a group of brilliant women who genuinely want to see each other succeed. Whether it’s mentoring, celebrating each other’s wins, or just being a sounding board on a tough day, it’s a space that helps women grow and stay engaged in the sector. We’re also lucky to be connected globally through INWIC, the International Network for Women in Cooling, which brings together women’s networks from across the world. Between these two, we’ve created networks where women can thrive and feel supported and seen. 

We’ve also seen a real shift in how we talk to young people about careers in RACHP. Over the past couple of decades, STEM outreach has improved, and female role models are becoming more visible. It’s taken time, but the message is starting to land: engineering is not just for blokes. It’s creative, rewarding, well-paid, and full of opportunities for problem-solving and innovation,  qualities that appeal to all kinds of people, not just those who happen to love spanners.

And this matters. It matters because it’s not just about fairness or ticking a box, it’s about the future of our industry. Diverse teams think differently. They solve problems better. They innovate more. As we face big challenges, decarbonisation, energy efficiency, the shift to low-GWP refrigerants, we need every perspective at the table. We need the full talent pool. And that includes women.

Yes, there’s still work to do. Women are still underrepresented in technical roles, and change doesn’t happen just because we want it to, it takes action, consistency, and support. But the last 20 years have shown that when we put in the effort, real change is possible. We’ve come a long way and business, and academia now recognises that women are versatile. We can pour coffee and write the research, chair the panels, design and build equipment and help to shape the future of RACHP. More importantly, we are no longer telling little girls that all they can be a teacher or a nurse. Young girls now have thousands of role models showing them that their career dreams, whatever they are, are possible