Andrew McIntosh

Biography and Research Career

Professor Andy McIntosh (Leeds) DSc, FIMA, C.Math, FInstE, CEng FInstP, MIGEM, FRAeS holds a Visiting Research chair in Thermodynamics and Combustion Theory at the University of Leeds, and up to 2014 was employed at the University of Leeds in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering. He also is an adjunct Professor at Crown College, Powell, Tennessee.

After gaining a first-class honours degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Wales (Bangor) in 1973, he worked at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Bedford for 4 years before doing research under Professor John Clarke FRS leading to a PhD in the theory of unsteady premixed laminar flames at Cranfield University in 1981. He came to Leeds in 1986, gained a DSc on the mathematical modelling of unsteady combustion processes within gases, fluids and solids from the University of Wales (Bangor) in 1998, and was awarded a personal chair at Leeds in 2000. A chartered mathematician and engineer, and author of over 200 papers and articles, his research has been in ignition and combustion in fluids and solids and he has lectured widely internationally and researched in these fields for over 40 years.

He became a Fellow of the Institute of Physics in 2002 and in 2003 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the Institute of Energy.

In the latter part of his career he has been involved in research in the area of biomimetics where the minute combustion chamber of the bombardier beetle has inspired a patented novel spray technology with applications to fuel injectors, pharmaceutical sprays, fire extinguishers and aerosols. This research was awarded the 2010 Times Higher Educational award for the Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology.

His work has also included investigations into the fundamental link between thermodynamics and information. This strikes at the heart of the issue concerning abiogenesis – the information in living systems is neither matter nor energy but is absolutely essential for life. He is now actively researching the specific energy pathways involved in biochemical systems engineering.

Professor McIntosh lectures widely on origins showing that true science is entirely consistent with a biblical view of origins. He has also authored the books “Genesis for Today” (Day One, 6th Edition, 2017), “A verse by verse examination of Genesis 1-11” (Day One, 2016) and has contributed to a number of other books including “Wonders of Creation – Design in a fallen world”(co-authored with Stuart Burgess and Brian Edwards, Day One, 2017), “Origins – examining the evidence” (Truth in Science, 2011), “In six days” (Master Books, 2009) and “Should Christians embrace Evolution?” (IVP, 2009). He has also written the booklet “Are you really an Atheist?” (2018), co-authored the booklets “Is it True – Evidence for Creation” (2018) and “A wonder of Creation – the Kingfisher” (2024), and is co-director of the UK education think tank Truth in Science. He is married with 4 children (one of whom died in infancy), and 7 grandchildren.

Publications

Journal papers

1.) Shah, A.A., Brindley, J. and McIntosh, A.C. “Gas-phase and heat-exchange effects on the ignition of high- and low – exothermicity porous solids subject to constant heating”, Jnl. Eng. Maths 56, 161-177, Nov. 2006.

2.) Shah, A.A., Brindley J., McIntosh, A.C. and Griffiths J.F. (2007) “Ignition and combustion of low – exothermicity porous materials by a local hotspot.” Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 463, pp.1287-1305.

3.) McIntosh, A.C. “Deflagration fronts and compressibility”, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A357, 3523-3538, 1999.

4.) Teerling, O.J.; McIntosh, A.C.; Brindley, J. (2007) Pressure wave excitation of natural flame frequencies. Combustion Theory and Modelling, 11(1), pp.147-164.

5.) Beheshti, N. and McIntosh, A.C. (2007) “A biomimetic study of the explosive discharge of the Bombardier Beetle.” Int. J. of Design & Nature, 1(1), pp.61-69.

6.) McIntosh, A.C., “True Science and Origins”, Science in Parliament 64 (3), 22-24, 2007

7.) McIntosh, A.C., Combustion, fire, and explosion in nature – some biomimetic possibilities. Proc. IMechE, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 221(C10), 1157–1164, 2007

8.) Beheshti, N. and McIntosh, A.C. “The bombardier beetle and its use of a pressure relief valve system to deliver a periodic pulsed spray” Bioinspiration and Biomimetics (Inst of Physics), 2, pp.57-64, 2007.

9.) McIntosh, A.C. “New technology derived from a beetle”, Public Service Review (PSCA International), Central Government 16, 150-151, April 2008.

10.) McIntosh, A.C. and Beheshti, N, “Bio-inspiration for new pharmaceutical sprays”, Industrial Pharmacy (Euromed Communications), 17, 12-14, March 2008.

11.) McIntosh, A.C. and Beheshti, N, “Insect inspiration”, Physics World (Inst of Physics), 21(4), 29-31, April 2008.

12.) Shah, A.A., Brindley, J., McIntosh, A.C. and Rademacher, J. “The effects of heat exchange and fluid production on the ignition of a porous solid” Nonlinear Analysis: Real World Applications, 9(2), 562-584, April 2008.

13.) McIntosh, A.C. “Evidence of design in bird feather and avian respiration”, Int. J. of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics, Vol. 4, No. 2, 154-169, 2009.

14.) McIntosh, A.C. “Information and Entropy – Top-down or bottom-up development in living systems?” Int. J. of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics, Vol. 4, No. 4, 351-385, 2009.

15.) Hmaidi, A., McIntosh, A.C. and Brindley, J. “A mathematical model of hotspot condensed phase ignition in the presence of a competitive endothermic reaction”, Comb. Theory and Modelling 14(6), 893–920, October 2010. DOI: 10.1080/13647830.2010.519050.

16.) Prongidis, A., McIntosh, A., Wilson, C.W. and Dolmansley, T. “Enhancement of ignition of a gas turbine by the addition of small amounts of H2O2” Proceedings of the IMechE Part A, Journal of Power and Energy 226, 49-61, Jan 2012.

17.) Sharples, J.J., Sidhu, H.S., McIntosh, A.C., Brindley, J. and Gubernov, V.V. “Analysis of combustion waves arising in the presence of a competitive endothermic reaction”, IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics (2012) 77, 18−31

18.) Gubernov, V.V., Sharples, J.J., Sidhu, H.S., McIntosh, A.C. and Brindley, J. “Properties of combustion waves in the model with competitive exo- and endothermic reactions”, Jnl. Of Mathematical Chemistry (April 2012)

19.) Booth, A., McIntosh, A.C., Beheshti, N., Walker, R., Larsson, L.U. and Copestake, A. Spray Technologies Inspired by Bombardier Beetle, in Bhushan, B. (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of Nanotechnology, Springer, Heidelberg, New York, London, 2012, pp. 2495-2503

20.) Hughes, K.J., Brindley, J. and McIntosh, A.C. “Initiation and propagation of combustion waves with competitive reactions and water evaporation”, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 469 (2160) DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2013.0506, 2013

21.) Watt, S.D., Huang, Z., Sidhu, H.S., McIntosh, A.C. and Brindley, J. “One dimensional chaotic laminar flow with competitive exothermic-endothermic reactions”, ANZIAM Journal, (Submitted April 2019).

Parts of books / Conferences

1.) McIntosh, A.C. (2007) “Functional Information and entropy in living systems” In: 3rd International Conference on Design and Nature, New Forest June 2006, edited by C.A. Brebbia, WIT Press; pp. 115-126; ISBN 1-84564-166-3

2.) Beheshti, N. and McIntosh, A.C. “A novel spray system inspired by the bombardier beetle” Presented Weds 25th June 2008 as Invited Presentation, Design and Nature IV, Proc of 4th Int. Conference on Design and Nature, Tivoli Almansor, Algarve, Portugal, 24-26 June 2008, Ed. C.A. Brebbia, WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 114, pp 13-21, WIT Press, 2008, 978-1-84564-120-7

3.) McIntosh, A.C. and Beheshti, N, “Insect inspiration”, Physics World (Inst of Physics), 21(4), 29-31, April 2008

4.) McIntosh, A. C., “Biomimetic inspiration from fire and combustion in nature including the bombardier beetle” in Biomimetics and Bioinspiration, edited by Raul J. Martin-Palma, Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Proceedings of SPIE Conference San Diego, August 2009 SPIE Vol. 7401 (SPIE, Bellingham, WA 2009) 74010F.

5.) McIntosh, A.C. and Prongidis, A. “Further biomimetic challenges from the Bombardier Beetle – the intricate chemical production system”, Invited presentation at Design and Nature V, Proc of 5th Int. Conference on Design and Nature, Pisa, Italy, 28-30 June 2010

6.) McIntosh, A.C., “Information and Thermodynamics in Living Systems”, Proc. of Symposium Biological Information – New Perspectives, Cornell University, 31st May – 3rd June 2011, pp.179 – 201, DOI: 10.1142/9789814508728_0008, World Scientific, July 2013

7.) Booth, A., McIntosh, A.C., Beheshti, N., Walker, R., Larsson, L.U. and Copestake, A. Spray Technologies Inspired by Bombardier Beetle, in Bhushan, B. (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of Nanotechnology, Springer, Heidelberg, New York, London, 2012, pp. 2495-2503.

8.) Wood, J., Murphy, M. A., Rhee, H., McIntosh, A.C., Horstemeyer, M.F. and Prabhu, R.K. “Bioinspired Shark Teeth Serrated Edges for Penetration and Shearing”, Symposium : Biological Materials Science, The Mineral, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) 148th Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio, TX, March 10 – 14, 2019, TMS 2019 Supplemental Proceedings, TMS & Springer.

A full list of publications is at https://professorandymcintosh.academia.edu

Media Contributions

1.) BBC Look North, Sept 2007

‘Beetle could be life saver – Leeds scientists believe the beetle’s unique spraying technique could be a clue to saving lives.’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-11959381

2.) BBC Material World, Nov 2007

‘The Bombardier Beetle’ – interview with Quentin Cooper https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/thematerialworld_20071108.shtml

3.) Der Spiegel, “Lernen vom Kampfkäfer“, vol 51, p. 144 17th December 2007 https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/lernen-vom-kampfkaefer-a-68b6f63e-0002-0001-0000-000054683217

4.) Science Daily, April 2008 5th April 2008 : https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401170543.htm

5.) Scientific American, April 2008

3rd April 2008 60 second science, “Beetle Points Way To Better Spray” https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/14b29e60-974b-1718-3b3079783feba66e/

6.) The Naked scientist show, May 2009

“Bioengineering – Engineering Inspired By Nature”

31st May 2009 : https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/bombardier-spray-cans

Patents

1.) McIntosh, A.C. and Beheshti, N. European Patent granted Sept 2009 EP1937333 “Drug Delivery – Spray system based on bombardier beetle”

2.) Beheshti, N. and McIntosh, A.C US Patent granted Jan. 24th 2012 US patent number US8100191 “Vapour Explosion chamber.”

3.) McIntosh, A.C. and Beheshti, N. US Patent granted Feb. 3rd 2015 US patent number US8944173 “Apparatus and method of extinguishing a fire using a vapour explosion process.”

4.) McIntosh, A.C. and Beheshti, N. US Patent granted March 3rd 2015 US patent number US8967494 “Fuel Injector.”

5.) McIntosh, A.C. and Beheshti, N. US Patent granted July 7th 2015 US patent number US9072850 B2 “Drug Delivery”