Constructing The Universe
The Universe may be a Mystery, but it's no Secret!

"There is a geometry of art as there is a geometry of life,
and, as the Greeks had guessed,
they happen to be the same."
-- Matila Ghyka

Some interests of
Michael S. Schneider
are offered here for your enjoyment and learning.

Michael S. Schneider (M.Ed. Mathematics) is an educator and writer who encourages a love of learning through an appreciation of mathematics, nature, art and science.
Artists, craftspeople, architects, designers, teachers, parents, youngsters and others have benefitted from his experience and knowledge.



Michael is the author of
A Beginner's Guide To Constructing The Universe:
The Mathematical Archetypes Of Nature, Art and Science
(HarperPerennial paperback 1995)
Dutch  Korean

Numbers and Shapes: The Universal Language of Nature and Art

The numbers 1 through 12 and the language of geometric patterns in nature, art and culture.

One and Two: Unity and Polarity
Three: Tri-Unity
Four: Fair and Square
Five: The Flag of Life (Pentagram, Fibonacci Numbers and Golden Section)
Six: The Joy of Six
Seven: The Virgin Number
Eight: Periodic Renewal
Nine: The Horizon
Ten: New Unity
Eleven: The PassageWay
Twelve: Cosmic Dozens

Beautiful Proportions in Sacred Arts, Crafts and Architecture

Worldwide traditions looked to the archetypal patterns of mathematics and nature for their compelling designs.

Natural Design and Sacred Art
The Art of Root-Rectangles
The Art of Polygons
Worldwide Healing Art
Sacred Windows
Principles of Sacred Architecture
Design A Cathedral
Design Sacred Pottery
Design Egyptian Jewelry
Golden Section Design
Islamic Patterns and Escher's Art

Constructing The Universe: Traditions of Mathematical Wisdom

The Geometer's Creation Myth
The Geometry of Fruits & Vegetables
Pythagorean Arithmetic: Figurate Numbers
The Tetraktys
Magic Squares
Knotted-Rope Geometry
The Five Platonic Solids
The Cosmological Circle
Music of the Spheres
The Spiral Path of Conflict Resolution
The Solar System Mandala
Ancient Metrology: Straightening Out Sacred Measure

Traditional Wisdom Survey

An appreciation of sacred traditions and related topics.

Egyptian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries
The School of Pythagoras
Savitri by Sri Aurobindo
Chakra Symbolism Around the World
Geometric Construction as Meditation

Click on this picture to see some geometric watercolors I've painted

Essays on the Web

The Geometry of Rose Windows:

Chartres Cathedral

Grace Cathedral (San Francisco)

Cathedral of St. John The Divine (New York City)

"Cosmic Dozens: Twelve-Fold Designs of Society and Art "

"Orienting From The Center"

The Geometry of a Herter Brothers Cabinet

The Musical "Amen Break" and the Golden Ratio

LISTEN!

Walter Cruttenden and Geoff Patino of the Binary Research Institute interview Michael about numbers, nature, art and ancient philosophy here. (March 2008)

Hear an interview with Michael on the Voice Of America program "Our World" (27 December 2003, 5.4 Mb .mp3 audio file)

Click here to hear a review of "A Beginner's Guide To Constructing The Universe" regarding mathematics education.

Click here to hear a review (podcast or .mp3) by Jeffrey Millburn at Omni Art Salon about using the book for developing awareness.

Does 5x5=25 or 14? Are you sure?
Ma and Pa Kettle mix mathematical principles in this amusing old movie clip on YouTube.

Can 7x13=28? It doesn't seem likely, but perhaps you'll be convinced!
Abbott and Costello also mix mathematical principles in this amusing old movie clip on YouTube.

A prediction from the year 1900 about education in the year 2000 --

About Michael ... Photo by Karen Koshgarian

Michael S. Schneider has been an educator for 34 years who enjoys exploring the intersections of nature, science, mathematics and art.

Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, (now Polytechnic University) and a Master's Degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Florida (Gainesville). He taught youngsters for twelve years in public and private schools at the Middle School and Elementary school levels. In 1977, Michael was a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar in India studying ancient mathematics and sciences. In 1993 Michael worked with master stonecarver Simon Verity to design the geometry harmonizing the statues on the south side of the "Portal of Paradise" (central entrance) to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. He has been a computer consultant at the United Nations, Nickelodeon, MTV, NYTimes and many other corporations. He has worked for the New York Academy of Sciences, and wrote articles, posters and teachers' editions for various Scholastic Magazines including Science World, SuperScience, DynaMath, and Teaching and Computers magazines. Michael was the creator and writer of the weekly "Mother Nature" segment at WNYC-FM radio on the popular live broadcast "Kids America" program (1986-87). He's also held workshops for educators at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York through their Education Department including "Science in the Art Museum", "The Mathematics of Islamic Art" and "Showing Children Harmony".

Michael is the author of "A Beginner's Guide To Constructing The Universe: The Mathematical Archetypes Of Nature, Art and Science" (HarperPerennial paperback 1995), five "Constructing The Universe Activity Books" and numerous articles concerning mathematics in nature and art.

Michael lives in Marin County, California. He's an Adjunct Professor at the California College Of The Arts (San Francisco) teaching "Mathematical Ideas" useful to art students. He has also taught at the Ex'pression College For Digital Media in Emeryville and the Sophia Center For Graduate Studies in Culture and Spirituality at Holy Names University in Oakland.