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History of Physics Group Minutes

Minutes of the 13th AGM of the History of Physics Group
Saturday, 21st October 2000, at 17:15
Institute of Physics, Portland Place, London


  1. About 22 members were present. Apologies were received from Duncan Bryant, Paul Holt, Russell Hand and Roy Johnson.
  2. The new chairman, Ian Butterworth, gave his thanks to John Roche for maintaining his responsibilities as chairman in Ian Butterworth's absence.
  3. The minutes of the 12th Annual General Meeting, held on 23rd October 1998 were approved. There were no matters arising.
  4. John Roche reported on the activities of the group over the past year. 505 members now belong to the group. John Roche, together with other acting and retiring chairmen of groups, had a meeting with Dr Alun Jones, Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics, and with various other officers of the IOP on 7 September. Two matters of interest to our group emerged at this meeting.
  5. The IOP has received a gift of four 78 rpm records of lectures by Sir William Bragg, and the group members have been asked for suggestions concerning what can best be done with them.
  6. Meetings: On 23 October 1999, Stuart Leadstone, with the cooperation of Willem Hackmann and the History of Science Museum, Oxford, ran a meeting to celebrate Volta's discovery of the electrochemical battery. Neil Brown has given a very full account of the meeting in the latest (Spring) issue of our Newsletter. On Saturday 26 February 2000 Sophie Duncan, with the help of Neil Brown organised a meeting on time and its measurement at the Science Museum. The meeting became very lively indeed when Einstein's theory of time was raised - in particular the interpretation of the twins paradox. On the 12 June the Group had a very enjoyable evening lecture by Howard Watson, on pubs with names associated with famous physicists.
  7. On Saturday 4 December 1999 the Committee had a productive planning meeting hosted by the Sophie Duncan in the Science Museum.
  8. Newsletter and Website: Lucy Gibson brought out the Newsletter in Spring (No.13) and Mike Thurlow again put it on the website. Lucy Gibson and Mike Thurlow are to be particularly congratulated of creating a website and contents which have received the highest number of 'hits' this year.
  9. John Roche and Neil Brown retired as chairman and Honorary secretary at the AGM in 1999. Ian Butterworth was elected chairman, and Sophie Duncan as Honorary Secretary.
  10. A wide discussion concerning the group putting on a meeting at the IOP Congress drew the conclusion that a display might prove the most appropriate response, perhaps linked to a historic lecture given by one of our evening speakers eg Professor Rotblat. It was to be discussed at the next committee meeting.
  11. It was suggested a survey of members be made, to discover where their interests in the group lay. This was going to be investigated by Sophie Duncan and Lucy Gibson. One member was concerned that a survey of the group might lead up to the conclusion that many members had little prior knowledge, and hence a simplification of meetings. He asked that the specialisation be maintained.
  12. The Honorary Secretary reported that she had little to add to the Chairman's report. It was reported that a suggestion had been made that we could provide a virtual conference for those unable to attend the meetings. This discussion was postponed to the next planning meeting. It was also noted that there is now a possibility to email notices of meetings to the members, whilst mailing notices to those without access to email. This should cut costs somewhat. As John Roche was standing down from the committee Stuart Leadstone gave a tribute to his work in setting up and running the group.
  13. Olivia Davies was elected to the committee. The other members of the committee (Robert Chivers, Christopher Green, Lucy Gibson, Stuart Leadstone, Hugh Montgomery, Christopher Ray, Peter Rowlands, Neil Brown and Mike Thurlow) were all willing to continue. These proposals were all accepted by the meeting.
  14. Lucy Gibson reported that a web site dedicated to the Blue Plaque awards was in the process of being developed. It is housed on the IOP Crystallography site, but when fully developed will be moved to the History Group site. Sophie Duncan requested people think about the possibility of standing for the committee next year, and reported that a media representative was needed for the group, and asked for volunteers.

S. Duncan
24 October, 2000