Margaret Wertheim is an Australian-born science writer and artist who with
her twin sister founded the Institute for Figuring. The Los-Angeles-based
nonprofit explores the interrelationship of art, science, mathematics, and
women’s handiwork. The Crochet Coral Reef is one of their projects and what
we will focus our discussion on today. Margaret Wertheim holds degrees in
mathematics and physics. Based on the mathematical discoveries of another
mathematically-minded woman, Margaret and her twin sister Christine
originated the Crochet Coral Reef project as a response to climate change.
The Wertheims’ crocheted representations of coral has become a global
collaboration with tens of thousands of people contributing their own
pieces to citizen-generated art-installations.