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Andrew McIntosh (physicist)

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Andrew McIntosh
NationalityUnited Kingdom
Alma materUniversity of Wales
Cranfield Institute of Technology
Known forIntelligent design, biomimetics
Scientific career
Fieldschemical engineering, combustion, thermoacoustics
InstitutionsUniversity of Leeds
Doctoral advisorJ.F. Clarke

Andrew McIntosh is professor of thermodynamics and combustion theory at the University of Leeds.[1] His group has received recognition for research on the physics behind the gaseous "cannon" of the bombardier beetle and his biomimetic application of this to the design of spray mechanisms, which has resulted in several patents. McIntosh is a believer in the pseudoscientific principle of young earth creationism.

Research

McIntosh's research group has developed a new technology known as µMist which is based on the gaseous "cannon" of the bombardier beetle. In December 2010, this work received the outstanding contribution to innovation and technology title at the Times Higher Education awards in London.[2]

Views

In a discussion with Richard Dawkins on BBC Radio Ulster and in an article, McIntosh argued that the principles of thermodynamics are not consistent with Darwinian evolution.[3][4] McIntosh said that the issue is that the second law of thermodynamics concerns entropy increasing in an isolated system. The current understanding is that because the earth is in an open system (where heat and mass transfer are allowed through the boundary) that entropy could readily decrease in such a system since outside there will be a compensatory overall increase. McIntosh argues against this, maintaining that even in an open system, random energy input will not produce complex and mutually dependent systems required for life without there being an existing or embryonic system there to begin with.[5] Styer and Bunn have argued that the compensation principle of low entropy islands can be used to lower the entropy locally and generate free energy.[6][7] McIntosh argues that it is information systems in living systems which are controlling the non equilibrium thermodynamics.[5]

McIntosh is director of the organisation Truth in Science which promotes creationism and intelligent design.[8] In November 2006, the University of Leeds issued a statement distancing itself from creationism, and noted that McIntosh's directorship of Truth in Science is unconnected with his teaching or research.[8]

Publications and patents

  • Origins: Examining the Evidence (Truth in Science, 2011) ISBN 978-0956963109
  • The Delusion of Evolution (New Life Publishing Co, 2010) ISBN 978-1904835028
  • Genesis for Today: Showing the Relevance of the Creation/Evolution Debate to Today's Society (foreword by Ken Ham) (Day One Publications, 2000) ISBN 978-1-903087-15-2
  • Shah, AA; Brindley, J; McIntosh, AC; Radernacher, J The effects of heat exchange and fluid production on the ignition of a porous solid. Nonlinear Analysis: Real World Applications, vol. 9, pp. 562–584. 2008.
  • McIntosh, AC Combustion, fire, and explosion in nature - some biomimetic possibilities. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, vol. 221, pp. 1157–1163. 2007.
  • Beheshti, N; McIntosh, AC A biomimetic study of the explosive discharge of the Bombardier Beetle. International Journal of Design and Nature, vol. 1, pp. 61–69. 2007.
  • McIntosh, AC; Beheshti, N Drug Delivery – Spray system based on bombardier beetle. 2010.
  • McIntosh, AC; Beheshti, N 60/720,716 (UOL Ref: UOL 05012/US/P1 Vapour Explosion Device. 2005.

References

  1. ^ "Professor Andy McIntosh". University of Leeds. Retrieved 2012-08-12. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  2. ^ BBC News "Beetle defence inspires University of Leeds research", BBC News, 9 December 2010
  3. ^ William Crawley:The Thermodynamics of Andy McIntosh
  4. ^ McIntosh, AC (2009). "Information and entropy – top-down or bottom-up development in living systems?". International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics. 4 (4): 351–385. doi:10.2495/DNE-V4-N4-351-385.
  5. ^ a b McIntosh, AC (2009). "Information and entropy – top -down or bottom-up development in living systems?". Int. J. of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics. 4 (4): 351–385. doi:10.2495/DNE-V4-N4-351-385. Retrieved 18 October 2012. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  6. ^ Styer, Daniel F. (1 January 2008). "Entropy and evolution". American Journal of Physics. 76 (11): 1031. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  7. ^ Bunn, Emory F. (1 January 2009). "Evolution and the second law of thermodynamics". American Journal of Physics. 77 (10): 922.
  8. ^ a b "Press statement: Professor Andrew McIntosh". Archived from the original on 2007-05-05. Retrieved 2006-12-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help), University of Leeds, 29 November 2006. "Professor Andrew McIntosh's directorship of Truth in Science, and his promotion of that organisation's views, are unconnected to his teaching or research at the University of Leeds in his role as a professor of thermodynamics. As an academic institution, the University wishes to distance itself publicly from theories of creationism and so-called intelligent design which cannot be verified by evidence."

External links

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