The Coral Reef Project

A few years ago while working in the science library at the University of Florida I had the opportunity to participate in “The Crochet Coral Reef” project. The objective of the project was to create an intersection between mathematics, science, handicrafts, environmentalism and community arts.

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Photograph of Hyperbolic crochet kelp garden by the “Institute For Figuring” at the Los Angeles County Fair.

Hyperbolic Crochet is the term coined by a now retired Cornell University mathematician by the name of Daina Taimina. During the 1990s Daina was trying to make a physical model of hyperbolic space. She tried several different medias in her attempts to demonstrate hyperbolic space, but none displayed the results she required. Many mathematicians believed it was impossible to demonstrate.

One quality of hyperbolic space is that as you move away from a point, the space around it expands exponentially.

Think of it this way-Hyperbolic planes are spaces of negative curvature. Imagine the shape of a saddle where all lines curve away from each other. Hyperbolic planes are common in nature and appear everywhere in repeating patterns.

It occurred to Dr. Taimina, who had grown up knitting, that the concept easily translated over to crochet. She was then able to successfully demonstrate the hyperbolic model through her crochet. The results of her experiment resembled the coral living in oceans.

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Photograph a unidentified folded coral in Flynn Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns, Queensland, Australia By Toby Hudson

The Coral Reef Project was the brain child of twin sisters Margaret and Christine Wertheim, both are pioneers in developing creative strategies to engage women in the sciences and mathematics or STEM as it’s frequently referred.

Margaret Wertheim has dual degrees in physics/mathematics. Her twin Christine is the co-Creator of the reef project and teaches experimental writing and feminism at the university level.

The bottom line for these women of science is the realization that the biology of corals and handicraft are linked to the foundations of the geometry and mathematics underling general relativity.

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They decided to demonstrate the concept by combining math, science and community based artistic handiwork to create a stunning visual exhibit-The Coral Reef Project.

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The Föhr Reef is part of the "Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef" project exhibit in Germany during the exhibition "Wie Schönes Wissen schafft", at the Museum of the University Tübingen (MUT) photograph by NearEMPTiness

A secondary benefit of the project was to increase awareness regarding the ecology of the worlds oceans and specifically the decrease of coral reefs.

Intrigued by the reef project two University of Florida Associate Science Librarians decided to start a “crochet circle” inviting anyone interested to contribute to the satellite reef project.

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Marston Science Library, University of Florida

Participants would meet daily in the science library to crochet and enjoy the fellowship of like minded individuals. If someone appeared who knew nothing about crochet (like me) they would be instructed the only requirement was to bring your own yarn and hooks.

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When the student is ready the teacher appears!

After several weeks the crochet circle’s handiwork would be boxed up and sent to Margaret Wertheim, and the designated curators for inclusion in the exhibit.

The Crochet Reef project is now the largest participatory endeavor combining science with art.

10,000 people from all over the world have now contributed to the project and 3 million people have seen Crochet Reef exhibitions. It’s been exhibited in galleries and museums all over the world including London and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. and many others.

The “Institute For Figuring” founded by the Wertheim sisters currently develops exhibits and programs for museums, galleries, colleges, and community groups throughout the world.