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JAMES CLERK MAXWELL FOUNDATION
Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 December 2006
MAXWELL YEAR 2006
To mark the 175th anniversary of Clerk Maxwell’s birth in 1831, numerous events took place around Scotland and overseas, including in USA, Australia and Hawaii. In Scotland well attended lectures were given in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Galloway and Paisley by leading physicists, mathematicians and a biographer. Motions were passed noting the occasion in the House of Commons and in the Scottish Parliament, followed in the latter by a debate on Maxwell’s increasing influence in science and technology. Two days of commemorative events were held in Galloway to mark his birthday; this included an exhibition at Parton, a visit to his home at Glenlair and a concert of music by his ancestor Sir John Clerk.
The events of Maxwell Year were coordinated and published by the Foundation on the web (www.maxwellyear2006.org). In addition the Foundation, with funding for Maxwell Year from “Your Heritage” of the Heritage Memorial Fund, organised events for young people and the wider public. These included a poster competition with prizes for primary schools and a 3D dynamic presentation for pupils at S2 level of Maxwell’s life and the electromagnetic spectrum. This will be shown to the public at The Edinburgh Science Festival 2007 and to schools around Scotland.
MEETINGS
Organisations, in addition to the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), which held meetings in the birthplace during the year included Institute of Physics (Seniors Group) and Civil & Structural Engineers and Newcomen Society.
Visitors to conferences held in Edinburgh included delegates from “International Particle Accelerators”, “British Summer School in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics (BUSSTEPP)” and from the “Committee on Observing Satellites (CEOS)”
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
ICMS increased its programme and staff during the year and collaborated with the newly formed Maxwell Institute in hosting meetings at 14 India Street.
APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
At the 2006 AGM it was decided to invite the following to become Trustees of the Foundation. The existing Trustees warmly welcome the subsequent acceptance by both, each having an active and keen interest in the work of Clerk Maxwell.
Alastair David Milne OBE, CEng, FIEE, SMIEE, FREng, FRSE.
Founder of Wolfson Microelectronics Ltd, Professor in Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Edinburgh.
John Francis Roulston OBE, DEng, HonDSc(Edin), FREng, FRSE.
Industrial Professor, School of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh
GRANTS
The second half of the grant was made this year towards the new James Clerk Maxwell Science Centre at The Edinburgh Academy, which was opened in November by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor, a former pupil of the school.
FINANCIAL POSITION
The Statement of accounts for 2006 shows a surplus of income over expenditure of £10,660. During the year under review £2000 of the loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland was repaid, reducing that loan to £6000. The balance of the Foundation accounts at the banks on 31 December 2006 amounted to £36,788.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the Deed the Trustees are required to obtain independent examination of financial statements for each financial year which properly represents the state of affairs of the Foundation and of the excess of income over expenditure.
The Trustees have assumed responsibility for the preparation of the financial statements for examination.
In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent:
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts:
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Foundation will continue its activities.
The Trustees are required to act in accordance with the Trust Deed and within the framework of Trust Law. They are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Foundation and to comply with the Charities Account (Scotland) Regulations 1992. They are also responsible for taking reasonable steps for prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
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