Jay Kappraff

 

Home Address:                   Professional Address:

102 Rynda Road                  Assoc. Prof. of Math.

South Orange, NJ 07079      New Jersey Institute of Technology

(973) 763-7703                       Newark, NJ 07102 (973) 596-3490

 

Education:

 

Ph.D. (Applied Mathematics)   1974     New York University

M.S.  (Chemical Engineering)   1960     Iowa State Univ.

B.Ch.E. (Chem. Eng.)                  1958     New York Polytechnic

 

Professional Experience:

 

Academic Appointments

  - Assoc. Prof (Math.)    NJIT                   1974 - present

  - Instructor (Math.)     Cooper Union College   1968 - 1974

Non-Academic Employment

  - Aerospace Engineer     NASA (Lewis Res. Lab.) 1962 - 1965

  - Teacher of Math.       N.Y. City Board of Ed. 1962

  - Chem. Eng.             Dupont DeNemours       1961 - 1962

                                 Newport Lab.

                                 Wilmington, Del.

 

Consultant        Dept. of Energy                 1976

 

Refereed Papers

 

Kappraff, J. “Ancient Harmonic Law.”  Bridges 2007.  (2007)

 

Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. “Generalized DNA Matrices, Silver Means, and Pythagorean Triples.”  Unpublished. (2006).

 

Kappraff, J. “The Lost Harmonic Law of the Bible.”  Proceedings of London-Bridges 2006.  Edited by J. Sharp. 

 

Kappraff, J. and McClain, E.G.  “The Proportions of the Parthenon: A work of musically inspired architecture  International Journal for Music Iconography, Vol. XXX, no. 1-2  Spring-Fall 2005

 

Kappraff, J. In Search of the Golden Mean.  FORMA Vol. 19, No. 4 (2005)

 

Kappraff, J. Growth of Plants: A Study in Number. FORMA Vol 19, No. 4 (2005).

 

Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Generalized Binet Formulas, Lucas Polynomials, and Cyclic Constants.  FORMA vol. 19, No. 4 (2005)

 

Kappraff, J., Jablan, S., Adamson, G.W., Sazdonovich, R. Golden Fields, Generalized Fibonacci Sequences, and Chaotic Matrices.  FORMA vol. 19, No. 4  (2005).

 

Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Polygons and Chaos.  Journal of Biological Systems and Geometric Theories, Vol. 2  pp79-94 (Nov. 2004).

 

Kappraff, J. The Anatomy of a Bud.  In Bridges:2004 edited by R. Sarhangi.  Winfield,KS:Central Plains books (2004)

 

Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W.  The Relationship of the Cotangent Function to Special Relativity Theory, Silver Means, p-cycles, and Chaos Theory.  FORMA.  Vol.18, No. 3  pp 249-262 (2003)

 

Kappraff, J. The Anatomy of a Bud.  In Bridges:2004 edited by R. Sarhangi.  Winfield,KS:Central Plains books (2004)

 

Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Polygons and Chaos.  Journal of Dynamical  Systems and Geometric Theories, Vol. 2  pp79-94 (Nov. 2004).

 

Kappraff, J. Complexity and Chaos Theory in Art.  Chaos and Complexity Letters,

Vol 3..  Special Issue on Chaos and Complexity in Arts and Architecture.  In press.

 

Kappraff, J. and McClain,E.  The System of Proportions of the Parthenon: A Work of Musically Inspired Architecture.  Music in Art: International Journal of Music Iconography.  In press.

 

 Kappraff, J and Adamson, G.W.  A Unified Theory of Proportion.  Conference Proceedings of ISAMA-Bridges 2003. J. Barrallo, et. al. editors (2003) and in Journal of Visual Mathematics (www.member.tripod.com/vismath (2003).

 

Kappraff, J. “The System of Proportions of the Parthenon and its Meaning.”

      Proceedings of the 5th Bridges  Conference, ed. by R. Sarhangi (2002).

 

Kappraff and Adamson, G.W. “Polygons and Chaos.”  Symmetry : Art and Science No. 1/2 (2001). 

 

Kappraff, J. “Beyond Measure: Essays in Nature Myth, and Number.” 600 pages.

      Singapore: World Scientific  In press. (2002)

 

Kappraff, J. "A Secret of Ancient Geometry."  In Geometry at

     Work edited by C.Gorini. Mathematics Association of

     America Geometry MAA Notes No. 53 (2000)

 

  Kappraff, J. Ancient Harmonic Law. unpublished

 

 Kappraff, J. and Hawkins, G. “The Music of the Spheres: Was

      Kepler Wrong?” unpublished (2000)    

 

 Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. “A Fresh Look at Number.” Visual  

      Mathematics (an electronic journal,  

      www.members.tripod.com/vismath) Vol. 2, No. 3 Fall 2000.  Also

      appeared in Bridges: 2000 edited by   

      R.Sarhangi.  White Plains, Maryland: Gilliland Press (2000)

 

    Kappraff, J. “The Arithmetic of Nicomachus of Gerasa and its

      Applications to Systems of Proportion”Nexus Network Journal (an    

      electronic journal, www.nexusjournal.com)Vol. 4, No. 3 October

      2000.

 

  Kappraff, J. Towers of Hanoi.Unpublished.

 

   Kappraff, J. “The Hidden Pavements of Michelangelo’s Laurentian

      Library.”  Article in the Mathematical Tourist section of Mathematical Intelligencer.    

      June 1999.

 

   Kappraff, J. “Systems of Proportion in Design and Architecture    

     and their relationship to Dynamical Systems.” In Visual

     Mathematics (an electronic journal). Issue 1. Feb. 1999.

     http:members.t.   ripod.com/vismath/Also published in the Proceedings

     of the Bridges Conference edited by R. Sarhangi (1999)

 

Nicholson, B., Kappraff, J., and Hisano, S. "The Hidden

     Pavement Designs of the Laurentian Library." In Nexus '98 edited   

     by K.Williams.  Fucecchio, Italy: Edizioni dell'Erba (1998)

 

Nicholson, B., Kappraff, J., and Hisano, S. "A Taxonomy of

    Ancient Geometry Based on the Hidden Pavements of Michelangelo's

     Laurentian Library." In Proceedings of the Second International

     Conference on Art and Mathematics edited by J.Barrallo.Also

     published in the Proceedings of the Bridges Conference edited by

     R. Sarhangi (1998)

 

 Kappraff, J., Blackmore, D., and Adamson, G. "Phyllotaxis as a

     Dynamical System: A Study in Number." In Symmetry in Plants 

     edited by R.V. Jean and D. Barabe.  Singapore: World Scientific.

     In print (1996).

 

Kappraff, J. "Musical Proportions at the Basis of Architectural

     Proportions both Ancient and Modern." In Nexus '96 edited by

     K.Williams.  Fuccechio: Edizioni Dell' Erba. In print (1996).

 

 Kappraff, J. "Linking the Musical Proportions of Renaissance,

    the Modulor, and Roman Systems of Proportions."

    Space Structures, Vol. 11, Nos. 1 and 2 (1996).

 

 Blackmore, D. and Kappraff, J. "Phyllotaxis and Toral              

    Dynamical Systems." ZAMM (1995).

 

 Kappraff, J. "Tangrams, Amish Quilts, and Sacred Geometry".

    SIAM Newletter in Discrete Mathematics. May 1993.

 

Kappraff, J. "Connections: The Geometric Bridge between Art and

     Science " 470 pages. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1991.

 

Kappraff, J. "The Relationship between Mathematics and

    Mysticism of the Golden Mean through History."  In Five-fold 

    Symmetry in a Cultural Context edited by Istvan Hargittai.  

    Singapore: World Scientific.  1991.

 

 Kappraff, J. "The Spiral in Myth, Mathematics, and Nature."

    In Spiral Symmetry edited by I. Hargittai and C.A. Pickover. 

    Singapore:World Scientific. 1991.

 

Kappraff, J. "A Course in the Mathematics of Design." In

    Symmetry:Unifying Human Understanding. Edited by I.

    Hargittai.  Pergamon Press. 1986. Also appeared in Comp. and

    Math. with Appl., Vol 12B, Nos. 3/4, pp 655-671. 1986

 

Kappraff, J. "The Geometry of Coastlines: A study in

    Fractals." In Symmetry: Unifying Human Understanding edited by

    I. Hargittai. Pergamon Press. 1986.  Also appeared in

                Comp. and Math. with Appl., Vol. 12B, Nos. 3/4, pp. 913-948,

                1986.

 

Other significant publications:

 

1.  Kappraff, J. and Marzec, C. "Properties of Maximal Spacing

    on a Circle Related to Phyllotaxis and the Golden Mean." of Theor.  Biol Vol. 103,

    pp.201-226. 1983.

2. Burridge, R., Kappraff, J., and Moshedi, C. "A Mathematical

    Model of the Sitar String: A boundary value problem with

    inelastic constraints." SIAM Journ. of Appl. Math. Vol.

    No.6, Dec. 1982.

3. Kappraff, J. and Cohen, S. "Passive Solar Heating." UMAP

    Module. 1982.

4. Kappraff, J. and Grossmann, W. "Effect of Hall Current and

    Rotation of Tearing  Modes of a Theta Pinch." J. of Plasma

    Phys. Vol. 25, Prt 1, pp. 111-131. 1981.

5. Kappraff, J. and Tataronis, J.A. "Resistive Effects on

    Alfven Wave Heating." J. Plasma Phys , Vol. 18, pp. 209-226. 1977.

 

Videotapes:

 

       Completed 11 half-hour videotapes on "Mathematics of Design." The videotapes were broadcast over Cable TV of New Jersey and several other public TV networks.

 

Grants:

 

      

       1. Graham Foundation. To write the book, Beyond Measure.  $9000     

 

       1. Graham Foundation. Production of a Telecourse in Mathematics

                of Design.  $9817. 1993-1994.

       2. National Endowment for the Arts.  To write A Workbook on

               Spatial Design Mathematics. $7500  Mr. 1991 - Mar. 1992

       3. Graham Foundation.  To write the book, Connections. $7500.

               Sept. 1987 - Sept. 1988.

       4. New Jersey Department of Higher Education.  Experimental

               Mathematics and Communications Summer Program. PI. $15,000.

               1985.

       5. Schumann Foundation. Exp. Math. and Comm. Summer Program.

               PI. $37,500. 1983.

       6. Schumann Foundation. Exp. Math. and Comm. Program. PI.

               $33,000. 1983.

       7. Graham Foundation. To write a set of Lecture Notes on The

            Mathematics of Design. $3000. 1980.   8. Naval Research Lab. PI. to investigate a mathematical model for the suppression of the "tearing mode" instability in a controlled thermonuclear plasma. $40,000. 1977 - 1978.

 

Service Activities:

 

Institute

 

       1. Organizer of three major public forums on Nuclear War at

               NJIT and the AAAS.

       2. Organizer and Director of the Experimental Mathematics and

               Communications Summer Program for inner city children from

               Newark. 1983 - 1985.

       3. Initiator and Director of the Treisman Program at NJIT to

               improve retention at the undergraduate level - 1991.

       4. Member of the Faculty Council

 

       5. Chairman of the NJIT Technology and Society Forum committee.  Since 2004- 

           present  we have produced 24 Forums and concerts with such notable speakers as Freeman

           Dyson, Leon Lederman, William McDonough, Shirley Ann Jackson, Joseph

           Cirincione, and Michael Oppenheimer on such topics as stem cell research, global

           warming, nuclear non-proliferation, nanotechnology, sustainable development,

           electronic voting machines, peak oil, U.S. competitiveness, and genetic engineering.

 

Community

 

1.         Wrote and directed a program “The Musicians and Artists of    

   Terezin.”  Performed at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship.      

   May 1999.

       2. President of a local civic group dedicated to sound

               development in South Orange, NJ. 1990 - 1991

       3. Organizer of a local Chamber Music Workshop.  1991 -

               present.

       4. Member of the Village Baroque Ensemble

       5. Member of the Essex County Voting Task Force helping Essex County, NJ to make a  

           rational selection of electronic voting machines to replace their lever machines..

 

Professional Activities

 

       1. Mathematics Association of America, Member.

       2. On editorial board of the International Journal of

            Biological Systems - a new interdisciplinary journal

3.      Guest editor of the special issue on the Golden Mean of the journal FORMA Vol 19,  No. 4 (2005)

 

Honors and Awards:

 

       1. Selected for Who's Who in Science and Technology. 1983,2006.

       2. Program Recognition Award of the New Jersey Department of

               High Education for an educational summer program. 1985.

       3. Selected for Who's Who in American Education. 1993, 2006.

       4. Selected for Who’s Who in America 2006

       4. Association of American Publishers award for the best book in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy Professional and Reference for 1991 for the book Connections.

       5.CAPE award from Cable TV of NJ for best Distance Learning

          Course of 1996.

        6. Excellence in Teaching Award 2001 - 2002

 

Personal Interests:

 

       Violin, chamber music, tennis, tai chi