Scientist history forgot finds place in public equation

Published on Friday 5 May 2006 12:50

THE name Albert Einstein is synonymous with his famous formula E+MC², just as Isaac Newton will forever be remembered for discovering that what goes up, must come down. But "forgotten" Edinburgh scientist James Clerk Maxwell is lacking a similar catchy tagline to ensure he is a household name, despite having made discoveries which paved the way for hundreds of modern inventions, including the mobile phone, television and X-ray machines.

Now members of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation have identified an equation which they hope will bring the scientist's work to the attention of the general public.

And the equation which has been chosen is flIn a joint project with educational charity the Digital Learning Foundation, the foundation's members have put together a 3D interactive roadshow.

It will tour schools and public places in Scotland in a bid to teach schoolchildren the importance of Clerk Maxwell's work to mark the 175th anniversary of his birth.

Born at 14 India Street, Stockbridge in 1831, he became the youngest ever member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh - accepted at the age of 14.

He studied at Edinburgh Academy, then moved on to work at Cambridge and Aberdeen universities, where he created a set of theories of electricity and magnetic lines of force, known in the world of physics as "Maxwell's Equations". He also discovered that the speed of the movement of an electromagnetic field is approximately that of the speed of light.

This discovery, explained by the simple equation frequency x wavelength David Ritchie, a trustee of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation, which is based at the scientist's India Street birthplace, said: "Why children don't hear too much about Clerk Maxwell's work is because the form in which it is expressed is very complex.

"All of the complicated theory behind this formula puts children off. We hope that it will become very clear to them when we demonstrate to them through the 3D show how the waves change."

He added: "Everything around us comes from this equation. It is what TV is based on, and radar too. His equation underlies everything from gamma waves to radio waves. They are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but they both use the same equation."

The roadshow, which is to be piloted at Clerk Maxwell's former school, Edinburgh Academy, in June, and is set to be rolled out across Scotland.

It will be visiting a number of schools in the Capital in September and will incorporate the visual 3D display.

Youngsters will be asked to don a pair of polarised 3D glasses, as in an IMAX cinema, and watch a computer-generated presentation on Clerk Maxwell's life and work. Experts on the scientist from the foundation will also be on hand to answer questions.

The show, which will focus on the importance of Clerk Maxwell's famous formula, and demonstrate the theory behind it in a simple way, will also include interactive elements where children can get involved with virtual experiments based on the scientist's theories.

The Foundation is also planning to exhibit the roadshow at public places in the Capital - although venues have not yet been confirmed.

Phil Lavery, trustee of the Digital Learning Foundation, said: "James Clerk Maxwell may well be the most important scientist in the world in terms of what he covered in his short life.

"It is a real shame that some members of the Scottish public do not know he existed."

He added: "We try to make the content of the workshop fun, which is important, because you've got to make the kids interested in what's going on."

Culture and Leisure leader Ricky Henderson said: "We wish the organisation well in promoting the profile of Clerk Maxwell and taking a greater understanding of his work to the citizens of Edinburgh. Hopefully more and more people will gain a better understanding that this scientist was a pioneer in his field, and of what he has done, that has led to the discoveries that benefit us all today."