Chairperson’s Report
April 2007 - March 2008

This is my last report as Chair of MGMS. Since my election in April 2004, there have been a number of important developments and innovations for the Society. Firstly, MGMS was reconstituted as a charitable limited company (as approved at the 2004 Extraordinary General Meeting). This transition has had no effect on the aims or work of the Society, but limits the liabilities of the Trustees. During this time, MGMS celebrated its 25^th anniversary, marked by a conference and the establishment of the MGMS Silver Jubilee Prize to recognise the achievements of young researchers, particularly those beginning independent careers. The 2007 Prize was awarded to Dr. Nick Besley (Nottingham University), who is giving the MGMS Silver Jubilee Lecture here in Cardiff. Congratulations to Nick, who is a worthy winner. We are seeking nominations for the 2008 Prize, so please do nominate outstanding young researchers, or encourage them to apply! See the MGMS webpages for details. We also instituted a scheme to support lecture tours by visiting lecturers. Nominations for MGMS Lecturers are welcome, and should be submitted to me or to Steve Maginn for consideration by the Committee. This scheme provides support for travel to the UK for international scientists in the field, to present their work in the UK and Europe in MGMS Lecture Tours.

Central to MGMS activities of course are the conferences that the Society organizes. In the past year, these have included the 4th Joint MGMS/SCAT Sheffield Conference on Chemoinformatics (organized by Val Gillet), our Silver Jubilee Meeting and MM2007 (Melbourne, Australia, November 20^th-23^rd 2007). We also organized a joint meeting with the Biochemical Society (organized by Richard Bryce and Mike Sutcliffe, in Manchester September 2007) on Bringing together biomolecular simulation and experimental studies). The 2008 MGMS AGM will be held at the conference on Bioinorganic Chemistry (Cardiff University, March 31^st April 2^nd 2008, organized by Jamie Platts and myself). Forthcoming MGMS meetings include Cutting Edge Approaches to Drug Design (October 9^th 2008). MGMS also supports other relevant meetings, including Computational Molecular Science 2008 (June 22^nd 25^th 2008). We also plan meetings on molecular systems biology (Oxford), biospectroscopy (London, December 2008) and on protein-protein interactions (York, September 2009), and a meeting in honour of Tim Clark (Erlangen, Sept. 9^th-11^th 2009). Details of these meetings, and other MGMS activities, can be found from the MGMS webpages (www.mgms.org). Our Australasian and German Chapters also organize further meetings. Thanks are due to all our conference organizers, and also to our sponsors for their support for these meetings.

MGMS aims to bring together researchers from academia and industry, to develop links and facilitate scientific discussions, and broaden the scope and impact of molecular modelling and graphics by engaging with experimental researchers and across disciplines. In particular, The Society aims to support younger researchers and students in the area of molecular modelling and graphics. The Young Modellers Forum is central to our activities here, and continues to be a great success. Steve Maginn and Stuart Firth-Clark organized another excellent Forum at the end of November 2007. The Forum allows PhD students to present their research to an audience of industrial and academic researchers, and fellow students. The presentations were (as ever) of very high standard. The 2008 Young Modellers Forum will be held on Nov. 28^th 2008. MGMS also provides other types of support for younger researchers, for example through student bursaries to attend relevant meetings in the field organized by similar organizations, and for prizes for poster presentations. These awards are made through the conference organizers.

I would like to thank all members of the MGMS Committee, past and present, for their efforts over the past four years. I would particularly like to thank our Treasurer, Steve Maginn, and Secretary (Richard Bryce) for everything they contribute to the Society, and for all the help they have given me. Under the Editorship of Jonathan Hirst, the Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling has continued to enhance its reputation. We continue to subsidize access to the Journal for MGMS Members. I would also like to thank Christine Richardson for her hard work in maintaining and updating the Societys webpages (www.mgms.org). Christine has also agreed to stand as Chair of MGMS: I am sure she will do an excellent job, and she has my full support.

MGMS is in a strong position, both in terms of its membership and financially. We cannot take our success for granted, however. MGMS exists for its members, and because of you. MGMS meetings are planned to cover the wide interests of our members, and to highlight molecular modelling work of the highest calibre and international importance. Suggestions for possible topics for conferences are always welcome as are volunteers to help with all aspects of organization, through the Committee. Overall, MGMS is working hard to fulfil its aim of promoting and advancing education and research into the science of molecular graphics and modelling. Through the Silver Jubilee Prize, the Young Modellers Forum, our conferences and other activities, I believe MGMS makes a significant practical contribution to supporting and advancing our field.

Adrian Mulholland

MGMS Chair

March 2008