Here's an event to stimulate our thinking about engaging others in the sustainability conversation....
On Monday night, March 23 in Malott Hall, Bache Auditorium, at Cornell, there's a free University Lecture that should be of interest to a wide spectrum of students, faculty and the general public. It's going to be an unusual talk -- it tells a remarkable story of groups of artists doing crochet, based on ideas from geometry, and aimed at increasing public awareness of global warming and coral reef destruction. Margaret Wertheim received international acclaim for the 2007 "Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef" project. This project originated from the published crochet instructions of a hyperbolic plane by Cornell University Professors Daina Taimina and David Henderson. Variations on this theme have resulted in a gigantic crocheted coral reef that draws attention to the effects of global warming and the fragility of the Great Barrier Reef. It has been shown at the Andy Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh, Spring 2007), The Hayward Gallery (London, Summer 2008), and museums in Chicago (Fall 2007) and at New York University (Spring 2008). While working on a shoestring budget, Margaret Wertheim has had an unparalleled impact engaging women around the world in active participation and learning about science, mathematics and environmentalism. As marine biologist Kate Holmes of the American Museum of Natural History wrote: *"The crochet project takes a new and interesting twist by looking at the mathematics of coral. It's another entrance point and it allows us to involve craftspeople who might be into conservation.*" Wertheim is known for her work as science writer and commentator. She has written several books, including* Pythagoras' Trousers*, a history of the relationship between physics and religion in Western culture. Her work as been included in included in Best American Science Writing 2003. Shecontributes to The New York Times Science Section, is an Op-Ed contributor to the Los Angeles Times, wrote the "Quark Soup" science column for the LA Weekly, and is contributing editor on science issues for Cabinet. Furthermore, she founded the Institute For Figuring (www.theiff.org) that is devoted to enhancing public engagement in science and mathematics through lectures, exhibitions, books, and an extensive website. Please encourage your students, colleagues and friends to attend -- I know they'll be glad they did. *Reefer Mathness:* *Confronting Coral Reef Destruction and* *Global Warming through Mathematics,* *Collective Art Practice and Crochet* Margaret Wertheim Science Writer and Exhibition Curator Monday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. Malott Hall, Bache Auditorium Reception to follow The lecture and reception are free and open to the public -- ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-220-8991 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 [email protected] Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask [email protected] free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
