The team's research was inspired by the bombardier beetle, an insect which sprays its predators with toxic steam. The result is new µMist™ technology, which has the potential to become the platform for the next generation of more effective and eco-friendly mist carrier systems. It has multiple potential applications such as new nebulisers, needle-free injections, fire extinguishers and powerful fuel injection systems.

The research was funded initially by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (EPSRC) and subsequently by Swedish Biomimetics 3000 ®. Professor McIntosh and his team were nominated by Denise DeLuca, a civil engineer with links to the Biomimicry Institute.

"Nobody had studied the beetle from a physics and engineering perspective as we did - and we didn't appreciate how much we would learn from it," said Professor McIntosh.

The Times Higher judges agreed, saying the Award was highly deserved and represented a breakthrough in the discipline of biomimetics. Chris Cobb, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Roehampton University and one of the award judges, said Leeds faced tough competition in what the panel described as a "very good field", saying: "The multidisciplinary team at Leeds has brought together biologists, chemists and engineers to achieve a method of producing highly specified sprays without the need for volatile organic compound propellants."

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