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Innovator-in-Residence: Innovative Crochet - Glow-in-the-dark Mobius
Join us as Greenwich Library’s new Innovator-in-Residence, Dr. Shiying Dong, leads a 12-week residency in the Innovation Lab. A pioneering mathematical artist, Dr. Dong will guide the community through hands-on explorations that blend art, math, and technology—using tools like laser cutters, 3D printers, and yarn-based design.
Step into the strange and fascinating world of one-sided shapes by crocheting your own Möbius fidget—a twisty, tactile object inspired by the famous topological surface. Using glow-in-the-dark yarn, you’ll craft soft loops with a half-twist, turning mathematical theory into a playful, take-home design.
No crochet or fiber art experience is needed—this beginner-friendly workshop is ideal for ages 12 and up. Registration is required and open exclusively to Greenwich Library cardholders. All supplies provided.
We will offer two sessions of this program: one on Saturday, October 4 and one on Monday, October 6. Patrons may attend only one session.
To get early access to all the Library's Innovation Lab events, sign up here for Innovation Lab email newsletters.
- Date:
- Monday, October 6, 2025
- Time:
- 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- Location:
- Innovation Lab
- Audience:
- Adult Senior Teens
- Categories:
- Art Crafts Home and Garden Innovation STEAM
Dr. Dong holds a M.A. in Math from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of Illinois and is the originator of topological crochet—a pioneering art form that transforms complex concepts from algebraic topology into intricate yarn sculptures. Her interdisciplinary work has received national recognition, including awards from the Mathematical Art Exhibition at the Joint Mathematics Meetings and the prestigious 2023 Einstein Mad Hat Award Grand Prize. Her paper-craft designs and her crochet forms have also been featured in The New York Times.
As an educator, Dr. Dong has taught in-person and online workshops at the National Museum of Mathematics and presented at major math-art conferences, including Bridges and the Joint Mathematics Meetings. She is currently co-authoring a book with renowned math artist Eve Torrence. Passionate about making advanced mathematical ideas accessible through hands-on creativity, she works across mediums—from yarn and paper to laser-cut and 3D-printed materials—to help others discover the beauty and playfulness of mathematics.
PROGRAM CONTACT:
Innovation Lab
Greenwich Library
Greenwich, CT 06830
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