ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF JAMES CLERK MAXWELL

Early day motion 2048, tabled 27 April 2006 by Mark Lazarowicz (Labour). Signed by 108 members.

That this House notes the 175th anniversary of the birth in Edinburgh on 13th June 1831 of the great Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell; notes that by discovering the nature of electromagnetic waves he paved the way for radio, television, radar and the mobile telephone; acknowledges the tributes paid to him by Max Planck who described his theory as `one of the greatest triumphs of human intellectual endeavour' and Einstein who said `One scientific epoch ended and another began with James Clerk Maxwell'; congratulates the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation on preserving his birthplace in Edinburgh and promoting the study of science by young people; further notes the programme of events to honour Maxwell in this anniversary year; and encourages all who wish to learn more to visit the website at www.maxwellyear2006.org.

Signatures by party: Labour 55, Conservative 20, Liberal Democrat 20, Scottish National Party 6, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent 1, Respect 1.