Kappraff was trained in
engineering,
physical sciences and
mathematics, earning a B.Ch.E. in
chemical engineering at New York Polytechnic in 1958. He went on to be awarded a
PhD in applied mathematics in 1974 from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Science,
New York University and a M.S. in chemical engineering in 1960 from
Iowa State University. He began work for
DuPont DeNemours as a chemical engineer from 1961 to 1962 going on to teach mathematics for a brief period before obtaining a position at
NASA as an
aerospace engineer from 1962 until 1965. He went on to be an instructor of mathematics at the
Cooper Union College,
New York City from 1968 until 1974. Following this, he joined the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he currently works. He was a consultant for the
Department of Energy in 1976. In 1978 he developed a course in the
mathematics of design for
computer scientists,
mathematicians and
architects.[3] In bringing together such an
interdisciplinary range of subjects, he began to study what he termed a common language of design and
geometry.[4] He has been a lecturer on the relationship between
art and
science and published a large number or articles on subjects ranging from
plasma physics,
solar heating,
aerospace engineering and
fractals. He has also published a number of books on these and related subjects and compiled a series of video lectures on the science of design.
At the NJIT, Kapraff has organized various forums and tuition programs on subjects from
Nuclear war and ancient
geometry to
experimental mathematics. he is a member of the faculty council and chairman of the NJIT
Technology and
Society Forum committee. He is a member of the
Mathematics Association of America and on the editorial board of a new interdisciplinary journal, the International Journal of Biological Systems. He was also guest editor of the journal FORMA for a special issue on the
golden mean in 2005.
Selected bibliography
Kappraff, J. "Geometric Foundations of Design: Old and New". World Scientific. (2021)
Kappraff, J. "A Participatory Approach to Modern Geometry." World Scientific. (2014)
Kappraff, J. "Beyond Measure." World Scientific. (2002)
Kappraff, J. "Ancient Harmonic Law". Bridges 2007. (2007)
Kappraff, J. and McClain, E.G. "The Proportions of the Parthenon: A work of musically inspired architecture". Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography, Vol. 30/1–2 (Spring–Fall 2005)
Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Generalized Binet Formulas, Lucas Polynomials, and Cyclic Constants. FORMA vol. 19, No. 4 (2005)
Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Polygons and Chaos. Journal of Biological Systems and Geometric Theories, Vol. 2 pp 79–94 (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 pp 79–94 (Nov. 2004).
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, Vol. 30 (2005), 5-16.
Kappraff and Adamson, G.W. "Polygons and Chaos". Symmetry : Art and Science No. 1/2 (2001).
Kappraff, J. "A Secret of Ancient Geometry." In Geometry at, Work edited by C.Gorini. Mathematics Association of American Geometry MAA Notes No. 53 (2000)
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.
Kappraff, J., Blackmore, D., and Adamson, G. "Phyllotaxis asDynamical 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).
Kappraff, J. "Connections: The Geometric Bridge between Art and Science " 470 pages. New York: McGraw–Hill. 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.
Kappraff, J. "The Geometry of Coastlines: A study in Fractals." In Symmetry: Unifying Human Understanding edited by I. Hargittai. Pergamon Press. 1986.
References
^Sol, Levinson.
"Funeral home". Sol Levinson funeral home. Retrieved 1 February 2024.