How do you combine multi dimensional mathematics, the great barrier reef and hand crafts

image from Institute For Figuring
The answer is the Sydney crochet coral reef. An offspring of the crochet coral reef presented by Margaret and Christine Wertheim and initiated by The Institute For Figuring, originally inspired by geometric models of hyperbolic space developed by mathematician Dr Daina Taimina in 1997.

Hyperbolic space is intriguing on its own with a complex relationship to the work of Einstein to mention just one. As an idea though it is another in that long running set of understanding changes that lead to new understanding of the world. It is something that everyone should try and think about at least once.

That is where the Coral reef and crochet come into it. Dr Taimina discovered that one of the simplest ways to represent the growth of hyperbolic space was to crochet it. If you crochet the right pattern you form shapes reminiscent of hyperbolic space. What’s more when you look at your crocheted things you discover they are also reminiscent of coral. Another little known fact is that coral and a number of other marine organisms grow in hyperbolic ways.

Put it all together as the Wertheim sisters did and you have a hyperbolic crocheted coral reef. Three Sydney artists have been inspired to build/grow their own. In stitches, the Sydney reef artists, are calling on the community to join their collective of coral reef crocheters (is that the word). Get a group of like minded people and crochet away.

While you crochet think about hyperbolic spaces, discuss the demise of Euclid’s fifth axiom, you could also discuss the parallels between that and the decline in coral reefs around the world, or why it is that you know so few mathematicians and yet maths is all around you.