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An Origami Original ; Science Project Wins National Attention

Posted on: Friday, 1 October 2004, 06:00 CDT

Caroline Trippel's idea for a science project is innovative enough to have attracted a lot of 21st-century attention -- and enduring enough to have once been embraced by 12th-century Moors studying science and mathematics.

Folded paper.

It was known as papiroflexia to medieval Spaniards.

It's known as origami to the Japanese -- and modern practitioners of the art, including novices like Caroline's younger brother, Timothy.

And it just may mean a trip to Washington, D.C., for Caroline, a semifinalist in the Discovery Channel's Young Scientist competition.

"I haven't really been very loud about it," said Caroline, an eighth-grade student at St. Joseph Elementary School of Mishawaka. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it."

But it is a big deal, and it's earned her the right to be one of 400 semifinalists nationally -- and one of 10 from the state of Indiana -- who will find out Monday if they will advance in the contest.

Caroline chose to combine her love of art and math in a project based on origami, in which she developed her hypothesis and proofs based on her folded-paper designs.

She chose the title, "Is There Math and Science Within the Creases of Origami?"

And answered yes.

"They like unusual projects," said the daughter of Christine and Terry Trippel of Mishawaka. "Sometimes the judges score higher for something they've never really seen before."

Caroline began her project last November, in order to be ready for her school's science fair in January.

A lot of otherwise free weekends were devoted to folding paper into geometric designs such as the tetrahedron, then "doing the math."

"People called," she said, explaining that friends wanted her to go out, "but I'd say, 'No, I'm working on my science project.' "

She got a lot of paper cuts, said the laughing but very proud principal, Mary Geist.

More important, Geist was impressed with how Caroline integrated her love of two different disciplines into one successful science project.

"She's very hardworking," Geist said. "Caroline's interested in a lot of different things -- sports, art, music. She plays the piano beautifully, and the church organ.

"She's very talented."

The work paid off. After Caroline won her school's science fair, she went on to the regional science fair at the University of Notre Dame.

After a long day of judging, Caroline found she'd won several awards -- including the right to compete in the Discovery Channel's contest.

The competition is open to 7,500 students nominated from across the United States, including Puerto Rico.

From the 1,795 entries, Caroline and the other semifinalists were chosen. If she is selected to continue on, she'll be one of 40 student finalists.

Caroline credits her mother with helping her to develop her skills.

"My mom's a software engineer, and she has a master's degree in mathematics," Caroline said. "I really like math and science, and I kind of get it from her."

Staff writer Laureen Fagan:

lfagan@sbtinfo.com

(574) 235-6344

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