£43,000 grant to promote 'forgotten' Maxwell

Published on Friday 7 July 2006 12:56

A GROUP championing the "forgotten" Edinburgh scientist James Clerk Maxwell has been given a £43,300 grant.

Maxwell Year 2006, the group honouring the 175th anniversary of the scientist's birth, has received the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It will be used to fund the development of a new 3D show which will tour schools to introduce Maxwell's discoveries to students, and encourage them to consider a scientific education.

Maxwell's discoveries paved the way for hundreds of modern inventions, including the mobile phone, television and X-rays, and his research was used as a basis for luminaries such as Albert Einstein and Max Planck. The money was presented by MP Mark Lazarowicz in a ceremony at the scientist's birthplace in India Street, Stockbridge.

The show was piloted at Edinburgh Academy in June and will be rolled out across Scotland.

Mr Lazarowicz has also tabled an early day motion in the UK Parliament which honours Maxwell and his achievements.