Modeling Buckyball Molecules with African Hexastrip Weaves
Paulus Gerdes, professor of mathematics in Mozambique, has studied the use of hexagonal weaving patterns in Africa and indigneous cultures elsewhere (India, Brazil, Malaysia, etc.). He found that this weaving technique could also be used to model the hexagonal patterns in large carbon molecules called "buckministerfullerenes" (named after the inventor of geodesic domes, R. Buckminster Fuller). They are often called "buckyballs" for short. This website will show you how to make these indignenous weave models yourself using paper, tape and scissors.
Indigneous "sepak" (Malaysian soccer ball)
Buckyball molecule C60
The paper model you will build!
