SHAC Trustees, Annual Report for the perlod Period start date JAN Period end date 31 DEC 2024 2024 From To SLlCtion A Reference and administration details Charlty name SOCIEfY FOR THE H15foRY OF ALCHEMY AND CHEMISTRY Other names tharlty Is known by SHAC Reglstered tharlty number (If any) 1190304 Charity's principal address 45 THE DRIVE ISLEWORTh Postcode TW7 4AA Names of the charlty trustees who manage the charlty Name of person lor bodv) entltled to appolnt trustee (If any) Trustee name Offlce (If any) Dates acted rf not for whole year FAJLJAMES CHAIR (Offlcer) TREASURER (Officer) AM8IX SECREfARY Iofficer) JOURNAL EDrroR IOfficer} MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY {Offlcerl SOCIETY SECRETARY (Officer) SOCIETY AWARDS {Officerl R A JOHNSTONE A E WOODMAN B T MOIIAN C A COBBOLD CJ CAMPBELL A LYKKNES J M RAMPLING T E NUMMEDAL io P J FORSHAW li J WILSON 12 H CHANG 13 V M QUIRKE 14 D G HEDESAN TAR February 2025 15 T TAAPE 16 L M PRINCIPE 17 P J RAMBERG Name5 of the trustees for the charity, rf anyp (for example. any custodian trustees) Name Dates arted rf not for whole year Names and addresses of advisers {Optional infornwtion) Type of advlser Name Address Name of chlef executlve or names of senlor staff membefs (Optional information) Section B Structure, governance and management Descriptlon of the charitys trusts Type of 8overnin8 document Constitution (CIO registered 08.07.20 and operational from 01.01.211. How the charity is constituted A550ciation of 295 rnembers (number at yearend 20241. Trustee selectlon methods With 42 days. clear notice before each AGM of the Society, the Trustees will advise membets of the Society of the Identltles of - (al Trustees who wish to continue as such and underthe Constltutlon are permltted to do so without reappointment at the AGM; Ibl Trustees who wish to continue as such and are seeklng reappointment at the AGM as required by the Constitution; and (cl nominees of the existing Trustees for new appointment5 a5 Trustees at the AGM- and members of the Society will be invited to make further nominations. Such further nominations must be made with the written consent of the nominee and with no lessthan 28 days, clear notice before the AGM. TAR February 2025 Trustees sep4e for 3 years after which they retire or are re-elected subject to competitive nomination. The trustees may fill casual vacancies but their choice must be ratified at the next AGM. Additional 8overnante issues (Optional Infomiatlonl A Risk Register. including measu￿$ put in place to minimise risk, was reviewed and updated by the Trustees at the Council meeting on 19.03.24 You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about: policies and procedures adopted forthe induttion and training of trustees; the charity's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; relatlonship with any related p3rt1Ès; trustees, consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. Revised guidelines for the Award Scheme. including guidance for arranging meetings in partnership with external organisation5 were approved by the Trustees at the Council meeting on 23.09.24. No fraudulent activity has been detected during the year. TAR February 2025 Section C Objective5 and activities The scholarly study of all aspects of the history of the chemical science5 (including alchemy). the holding of meetings for the presentation and discussion of scholarly papers. either on its own or in conjunction with other learned societies, and the publication of relevant material. especially in the Journal of the Society. Current￿ called Ambix. The trustees in 2024 have had due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission. The trustees believe that a broad understanding of the history of the chemical sciences lincluding alchemy) is of benefrt to the public by helping them to understand the place of hemistry in society and culture over the centuries. As a learned society it aims to advance education, the arts. culture. heritage and science through scholarly andlor curatorial artivity relatingto the history of alchemical and chemical science in any part of the world. Specifically, the charity achieved this by the following.. The charivs scholarly journal Ambix has for over 80 years been a major means of academic scholarly exchange, and therefore is of public benefit. It is sold to institutions and libraries, as well as dlstributed to members (annual membership fee is £40, reduced to £30 for retlred members of 10 vears, standin8 and to £25 for studentsl. Summary of the objects of the charity set out In Its 8overnlng document There were 44,805 downloads of artlcles publlshed In Amblx and Its back catalo8ue (datin8 from 1937) from l January 2024 through to 31 Oecember 2024. Sufflmary of the maln actlvftles undertaken for the public beneflt In relatlon to these objects (Indude within thls sectlon the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance Issued by the Charity Commission on public benefft) The net surplus from membershlp subscriptions and this publishing activity (together with any donations and Interest on depositsl, supports a range of further actlvlties benefitlng the publlc:_ {il The Society provide5 Study grants to members who are students, early career researchers and independent scholars (membership belng open to anyone). lill The Society organises and funds scholarly meeting5, workshops, seminars and webinars. attendance atwhich is not confined to members. Iliil The SocieVs substantial newsletter Chemicol Intelligence is available free to the general public online; it advertises and reports not only the Sociews events and acttvities but those of other organisations involved in the history of alchemy and chemistry. The Society also maintains a website with similar objectives. {ivl Sources of Alchemy and Chemistry. an occasional supplement to Ambix. is available at no extra cost to full institutional subscribers to the relevant annual volume of Ambix and to members subscribing for the relevant year. Iv) The 5ocietVs Morris Award, Partington Prize, and Oxford Part11 Prize are awarded to scholars from time to time regardless of whether they are members of the Society. Ivi) Brock Award {newly established) honours Professor William 'Bill' Hodson Brocl one of the leadlng hlstorlans of chemlstry of the last flfty years. The Award will be for outstanding contributions in the fields of the history of alchemy and chemistry. The individual'5 impact on the comrnunity of historians of alchemy and/or chemistry, through hlstorical research, publication, support and encouragement of students and TAR Febnjary 2025 fellow researchers and contributions to the wider promulgation of the subject will be signtficant criteria for selection. Addltlonal detalls of objectlves and actlvltles (Optlonal Informatlon) You may choose to Include further statements, where relevant, about- The charity contlnues to rely heawly on the contrlbutlons of volunteers, without whose efforts the Charity would be unable to operate. policy on grant-making; policy programme related investment: contribution made by volunteers. TAR February 2025 Section D Aihievemerits aiTrd perroriTldllLe Summary of the maln achievements of the charlty during the year On Tuesday 14 May 2024. the Society held its AGM on Zoom. Meeting5 AII SHAC meetings are open to both members and non-members of the Society. In some cases, a small charge may be made to contribute towards costs. During the year SHAC held three meetings and six on-line seminar5. SHAC is enormously gratefijl to all three Institutions that have hosted and supported the meetings throughout the year. On 13 January the SHAC PG meeting was held at Stjohn's College, Oxford, on the theme of 'Uncovering the secrets of the universe,. The speaker5 were: Josh Werrett. Yusuf Tayara, Diego Gorini, Sergei Zotov, Ellen Hausner. Maddie Reynolds, Elena Morgana, Leonardo Anatrini and Georgiana Hedesan, with Frank Jamed delivering the keynote lecture. On 28 and 29 May, the SHAC Spring meeting was held at the Maison Franpise d'oxford on the theme'From Antique to Early Modern Alchemy: New Approaches, New Horizons,. The speakers were: Thijs Hagendijk, Hannah Elmer, Peter Oakley, Gary Patterson, Petr Pavlas. Vojtèch Kale. Jo Hedesan. Sean Coughlin, Vlctor Golubev, Eduardo Escobar, Giacomo Montanari, Joshua Werrett, Carmen Schmechel, Athanasios Rinotas, Stefania Buosi Moncunill, Elisabeth Moreau, Eugenio Villa. Farzad Mahootian. Zoe Screti, Tom Fischer and Sergei Zotov with Jennifer M. Ramplin8 dellverfng the keynote lecture. On 11 Ortober, the SHAC Autumn meetin8 was held at the Allard Pierson. University of Amsterdam on the theme 'Alcherny, Freemasonry, Hermeticism and Rosicrucianism,. SHAC The Speakers were.. Sergel Zotov, Tjallin8 Janssen, Corey Andrews, Noah Riggenbach, Kyra Gerber, Amber R02enrlchter, Peter Forshaw and Jennrfer Rampling. 5tepherb Clucas dellvered the keynote lecture following which there wa5 a presentatlon to hlm markln8 the end of twenty years service on SHAC Council. As usual the slx SHAC on-llne seminars covered a wide range of topics In the history of alchemy and chemistry. The speakers were Sharon Ruston, Robert Fox, Annette Lykknes and Brl8ltte van Tlggelen, Peter Morrls, Joshua Werrett and Matthew Eddy. Publlcatlons Ambix." The Society published four issues of its scholarly journal Ambix in 2024 February 2024 (volume 71. number l) A Special Edition Chunging Colour- Yellow Dyes from Antiquity to Eorly M(xlernity. guest edited by Marjolijn Bol. Matteo Martelli, Lucia Raggetti and Jennifer M. Rampling. Is Gold Yellow? Plant Dyes (3nd Gold-making in the Ancient Chemical Arts. Caterina Manco and Matteo Martelli Stolen Horses ond scented Garments.. Vegetal ond Minerol Yellow In Arabic Technicol Literoture. Lucia Raggetti TAR February 2025 Section D Achievenieiits and perforrriaiice CitrinGtion ana its Disconrenrs.. Yellow os a Sign ojAichemicol C17ange. Jennifer M. Rampling Making Yellow5 L05t with NitricAcid.- Exploring Colour Permanence in Art ond Knowledge, 16LXk1850. Marjolijn Bol and Giacomo Montanari The Historicol Chemist. Giacomo Montsnari, Marianna Marchini and Lucia Maini May 2024 (volume 71, number 2) Fragments of Alchemyfrom a Cairene Synogogue.. Context Codicology, and Contents of the Alchemical Corpus of the Calm Genizah. Gabriele Ferrario. Tran51oting Forbidden Authors.. New Evidence on the Alchemical Library of Don Antonio de, Medici. Stefano Mulas. A Very-Distillrf Emblem In Baroque Rome.. Natural Phi1050phy. Alchemy, ondAtomtsm In the Acodemy of the Umorlsti. Maria Flammenta Lovine Lavoi51er and the Htstory of Chemistry. Marco Beretta. August 2024 (volume 71, number 3) Special Issue: The Chemistry of Llfe, guest edited by Carmen Schmechel Leaven of Dough, Fem7ent of Gold.. The Breadmaking Analogy in Medievol Metallic Tmnsmutotion. Carmen Schmechel. Fire. Vulcanus. Archeus, and Alchemy." A Hybrid C105e-Distont Reoding of Pomcelsus's Thouqht on Artive Agents. Georgina D. Hedesan The Emergence of Chemicol Medicine in Eorly Modern Noples (160t 1660). Antonlo Clerlcuzio Distilling the Art of Distillation In an UnstudSed Manuxrlpt of "Chymicall Notlons". Justln Begley. Dlderovs Vltol Materialism. Charles Wolfe November 2024 Ivoluffle 71, number 4) Renoi55unce Goo.. Senses and Materia15 in Early Modern Apothecory Taxonomies and Soft Matter Science. Jill Burke and Wilson Poon New Reseorch on the Origin of Mosoic Gold. Rafael Marqués Garcia Why Do Things 8urnP Elizobeth Fulhame's Challenge to the Antiphlogistic Theory of Combustion. Amy Fisher Stirring the Pot.. Antoine Baume, J05ioh Wedgwood. Pierre-Louls Guinand, ond the Development of Opticol Gloss. Mark l. Grossman In 2024 Bnjce T. Moran was editor of Ambixwith Viviane Quirke and Peter J. Ramberg as Associate Editor5 and Tillmann Taape as Book Reviews Editor. sourc￿ of Alchemy and Chemlstry Work on the next issue is actively underway. Chemlcal Intelllgence Two issues of the Societrfs newsletter were published in 2024. in February and August. Both were edited by Karoliina Pulkkinen. This publication advertised and reported not only the Societvs events. but those of other Felxuary 2025 TAR Sectlon D Achievements and periormarice organisations Involved in the history of chemistry. It was distributed to members by email and was made available free to the public online. SHAC Graduate Network The SHAC graduate network f05ters interdisciplinary exchange among graduate students and early career scholars from any field whose work engages with the history of alchemy and chemistry. The SHAC Graduate Network continued held its 14th annual postgraduate conference, titled "Uncovering The Secrets of the Universe" at St. John's College in January 2024, with Joshua Werrett as conference organiser. The Partlngton Prlze The Partington Prize was established in memory of Professor James Riddick Partington, the Society's first Chairman. It is awarded every three years for an original and unpublished essay on any aspect of the history of alchemy or chemistry. The prize consists of five hundred pounds1£5001. There was no award for 2024. SHAC Award Scheme The Soclety Invlted applScations for funding under Its Award Scheme wlth a deadline of 31 May 2024. Following consideration by a committee, Research Awards (for which both early career scholars and independent scholars are ellgible) were approved as follows.. Dafydd Roberts Aberyswyth Unwersity In o Stmnge Gorden - Alchemy in Sound ond Noture Award: £ 912 U.K. Pleter D.L Beck Ghent University Replicating the Ingenhousz-Fontana Eudiometer Award: £l(MXI U.K. Seryej Zotov University of WarwlcK U.K. Alchemical iconography as mediator of knowledge on the exomple of European manuscripts of 15th and 16th centuries Award: £IOOO U.K. Robert Nigel Slinn University of York, U.L Vocationol educotion and training in the British chemical industry11945- 95) Award: £IO(XI U.K. Sllvla Pérez4rfado University of Valencia. Spain TAR February 2025 Sèction D Achieknemer,t5 and periorniance Exploring the Archives." History of Orgonochlorine Pesticide Produrtion in Spoin (1945-1976) Award: £IOCM) U.K. Elena Morzana University of Oxford. U.K. The 'liquor Alkahe5t' ond the pursuit of purification in early eighteenth ntury chymistry. Award: £774.12 Davld Labastkla Rodrlguez University of Toronto. Canada Encountering and Living wlth Plont Llfe.. Qulnlne s Role In the Mt7klng of German Glol)ol Biomedicine in Imperial Contexts 1800-1943. Award: £l(YX) U.K. lauren￿ Chen University College London, U.K. The Hermeneutlc5 of EGAY Modern English Alchemicol Metaphor5 Award: £10￿ U.K. George Bor8 University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A. Discovery, innovotion ond technology in science.. geochmnology ond the ontology of scientific method5. Award: £IOCNJ U.K. The Society continued Its series of free online seminars open to all, with recordings placed on SHACS YouTube Channel. The following speakers presented papers.. Matthew Daniel Eddy, Joshua Werrett, Peter Morris, Annette Lykknes and Brigitte Van figgelen, Robert Fox, Sharon Ruston. In addition, the Turba seminars on alchemy included presentations from: Sergei Zotov, Carmen Schmechel. Umberto Veronesi. Matteo Soranzo and Cristoforo da Pari81, Antonio Clericuzio, AD HOC During 2024, AD HOC held several sessions. At some meetings we had presentations followed by Q&A, and at others, discussions of pre- circulated text. These meetings were hosted hybrid. We also held a hands-on workshop focused on questions around re-enactin8 past experiments. TAR February 2025 Section E Financial review As agreed at Council in March 2023 the maximum level of reserves is unchanged from that agreed at council 1813122 (£140,000) owing to the continuing uncertainty regarding future journal subscription income created by open access "plan S. and the position of hybrid joumals such as AMBIX. The knock￿ effects for the Covid pandemic continued to suppress claims made against agreed avkqrds in 2024 and will do so in 2025. The achieved reserves in 2024 were £122.958. Brief statement of the charlvs pollcy on reserves Deta115 of any funds materlalty In defidt No fund is in defiat. Further Ilnandal revlew detalls (Optlonal Informatlon) You may choose to include add5tional information, where relevant about= • the charity's prlnclpal source5 of funds {includlng any fundraising): how expendlture has supported the key objectlves of the charity,. Investment pollcy and objectives including any ethical investment pollcy adopted. Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Sl8ned on behalf of the charlrfs trustees Signature{s) Full namels) f •l A Posltion (eg Secretary• Chalr, etcl Scc¢E i Ael Date Iq os. TAR 10 February 2025 Soci•ty lorth• HIWY ofAkP•hy •nd 1190304 313TIT Chemfsty CC16a modlfl•d to Ilst 2 restrlcted funds Recei tsand ments accounts Fty lh¢ pgrlod from To 01-JaD-24 31-0￿24 Sectbon A Receipts and payments Unrnstrlet R•strOct•d Rtstrlcted I￿)d. PAoffig Ptlze Totsl fundg PrfDrY•nv A1 Recgl M0mbersh￿ 8ut¢ripD￿tr2O2 M8mbership sutrKriptsons ￿ 2024+ Orthnary Sl￿￿ meetsrvJa On￿ff 8PeO81 prOJ￿ta 5072 5J55 sparè lin ¢uma royAty s￿rces SUFvlernenl toAmt& rDy DonAbon rfta 1947 18 Inior681 'IceJan￿v3 Sub tot•l(Gmss In(￿me for ARJ 27 A2 A••8t and In¥Mtrn•nt ul Non• To•iwts A3P* onts 341 J41 o￿l￿ary S(t*ty ckn&off #12 SPStB line 2630 SouTce$ 5UFFknentto ￿r￿J. bon. d*knbuMn Award?. ptizeJ. gian ArthTri BJnk •nd p*y￿￿•r0es 11217 507 Sub total 160 t871 A4 A••*t •nd Inv••tsnont Sub total 16029 16029 18713 Net of rn¢eIpt￿paYMents) AS Trarthrs between fundB A6 Cash fvnd¥ 14¥t ￿Or end Cash fun(ts Ihls )w•nd 16 16 13786 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted Restrletsd Restrfcted fund: Morrjs Prtze Categorl•$ D•tsii$ ste n•aF•Bt£ 81 Cash funds 25 83612 79J8 67 1697 144 Unr•sirl funds Restrlctod Rostslctsd fund Morr1• Prlz• Detsll3 B2 Othor monotsry assets euvr•nlv•lu• k)n41 Detai15 B3 Invg¥tm•fit 4M•ts Fundlo *thkh Details B4 Assets rntaln•d for the charfty'8 Own U¥• Amourtdu• etails r•* loptlon•l 85 Llabllltle• 5,355 6.999 hyWh•tlcnl up ol So¢ 792 d￿￿Tha ffun 2024 acthty not >*t Invo*A to SFWC Trtsl 13 146 Swed byorn tnjstees on behalf of all t￿ IlUSt••s oate ol 2q031 'WècoMAfvJ 1401. Tho Charity - al has gNen no guararrt8e %•t*ra any potentsl ￿bAty u*J8rthe swarartse ￿ ￿lsta￿￿[￿j at Ihe date of 5tatsmenl. And bl has Tro deb¢ outslandirrfj at the date ofthi5 Statorwrt7Athth 15 CIO and 15 seojrnd by an ¢xpress ¢h•rge w any ofthè assets of CIO. ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry **On accounts for the** 31/12/2024 **Charity no** 1190304 **period ended (if any) Set out on pages** 1 to 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the period ended 31/12/2024. - **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or - the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. **Date:** 4[th] April 2025 **Signed: Name:** Susan Elizabeth Ambrose **Relevant professional** FCCA FCA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** Butt Miller Limited 1 Minster Court, Tuscam Way, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3YY **October 2018** 1 **IER** ## **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . No items to disclose. **October 2018** 2 **IER**