Awards for 19 designers who took on virus

DESIGNS for face shields, breathing aids and medical ventilators are among those that have won awards for engineering achievement in the Covid crisis.

The Royal Academy of Engineering last night revealed awards to 19 individuals and teams, including those based at the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, London, Plymouth, Southampton and Leeds.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, president of the academy, said: “Engineering expertise and innovation has been central to the global fight to save lives and protect livelihoods.”

Winners include Dr Antony Robotham, from the University of Plymouth, who designed an environmentally friendly face shield, a team at Southampton University for developing a respirator, and Babcock International Group for a ventilator product.