Crocheted “Reef” Project

Colorful crocheted contributions from more than 50 Vassar students, faculty and staff were the elements of a “coral reef” that went on display in the Bridge for Laboratory Sciences over Spring Break.

Grand Challenges is a five-year program funded through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to build capacity for inclusive excellence in the sciences. A major focus has been on building community across many dimensions of difference. This winter, the vision of the Creative Project was to support a community of science and art by bringing people together during a time of isolation. 

The crochet coral project was conceived by members of the Grand Challenges team: environmental studies major Maya Pelletier ’22, an intern for the Grand Challenges Program and an avid knitter; Rick Jones, Vassar’s Earth Sciences Laboratory Coordinator and a longtime crochet enthusiast; Tom Pacio, Director of Creative Arts and Co-director of the Grand Challenges Program; and Jodi Schwarz, Associate Professor of Biology, Director of the Grand Challenges Program, and a newbie to crocheting.