MSL Camp at the Institute

For four weeks in August, selected students from around the South Sound participate in a four week summer camp with an important focus. The Math, Science & Leadership (MSL) program at the Institute of Technology is a multi-year program that begins with a summer camp for students who will be entering 7th - 11th grades here in the South Sound.

The goals of the program are to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science, ease the transition from middle school to high school and high school to college, encourage the pursuit of math and science electives at the high school level and to pursue postsecondary degrees in these fields.

Believe me, we need more scientists and engineers.



I spoke to a class of eighth graders in during the second week and enjoyed myself greatly. They were outgoing, respectful and interested in the discussion. My focus was on origami and its relation to mathematics. In particular I highlighted Robert Lang, a noted physicist and engineer, who has authored or co-authored over 80 technical publications and 40 patents on semiconductor lasers, optics, and integrated optoelectronics.


He has also presented several refereed technical papers on origami-math at mathematical and computer science professional meetings. His profile on CBS 60 minutes was shown during the discussion via the web in a smart classroom, and the feature noted the applications of origami to engineering problems ranging from air-bag design to expandable space telescopes.

And then of course we made cranes.

Escaping Cranes Two: Red Version

I had a number of positive responses to my display of escaping cranes. One person convinced me to make another with their selected color scheme so that it would look good in their home.

The colors are red, gray, white and black, and though I wasn’t thrilled with the way they filled the glass container, I really like how they look escaping up into the sky.

With the first one I used about 80 or so cranes but with this one, given the container was slightly smaller I ended up using closer to 60 or so.

Escaping Cranes

I have made what I will brazenly call art from origami before. I will take the simple classic models like the frog, or some complex models from John Montroll, and create them in sufficient number that they can then be woven into a larger work. My favorite involves many Montroll turtles making their way across a sandpaper based beach to a blue felt based ocean from four corners.





I have been working toward doing something with a thousand cranes. The frame is complete and the cranes have been folded with a couple hundred to spare, but I have yet to put it together.



Feeling anxious about it, I threw something together in the meantime, which I call Escaping Cranes. Here is what it looks like. Of course like most photos of a three dimensional object, it loses a little something in the flattening out. Hopefully I can find some space to work on the other project. It will be seven by eight by six feet in size and needs some room for it to come together.