Turn theory into practice by entering COMAP's Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM). The study of mathematics as a subject in its own right may have started with Pythagoras, but people have been counting as a basic necessity of everyday life for thousands of years. It follows that mathematics was invented to help us understand and manage the world around us.
What's in it for you? It's a chance to challenge your brain, solve a real world math problem, and get recognition for it on an international stage. It's an excellent opportunity to develop your interpersonal skills through teamwork. It's also an impressive resume credential and an advantage when applying for internships. Added Attraction: A chance for your top US team to win the Two Sigma $10,000 Scholarship Award, and more.
What's in it for your school? The recognition and prestige of being part of COMAP's 32nd annual international event. Meaningful preparation for the real world of problems, politics and financial constraints. Impetus and justification for more applied courses' a blueprint for your schools future.
COMAP's Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) is Real World Mathematical Modelingwhere research, analytics and applied intelligence reign along with less-quantifiable factors like timing and luck. Think you're up to it?
MCM Problem A (continuous)
MCM Problem B (discrete)
MCM Problem C (data insights)
ICM Problem D (operations research/network science)
ICM Problem E (environmental science)
ICM Problem F (policy)
Prizes/Certificates
The Two Sigma Scholarship Award will be awarded to two top MCM/ICM US teams; $10,000 per team with $9000 going to the team members and $1000 to the school represented. Awards will be announced in April 2016.
After the results are issued, each successfully participating team advisor and student will receive a certificate of participation. You may login to the contest web site using the Advisor Login link to view and print your team's certificates. All international teams will ONLY receive an electronic (PDF) certificate. US teams should allow several weeks after the results are posted to the contest web site to receive your print certificate.
MCM Awards
(Problem A, B and C)
The Ben Fusaro Award will be accorded to an especially creative paper and will be chosen from the contest finalists.
The Frank R. Giordano Award began in 2012. It honors Brig. Gen. (ret) Frank Giordano who directed the MCM for 20 years. This award goes to a paper that demonstrates true excellence in the execution of the modeling process.
ICM Awards
(Problem D, E and F)
The Leonhard Euler Award is presented to a team selected by the head judge of the ICM's Problem D. The criteria are: 1) a paper in the Meritorious/Finalist/Outstanding rating; 2) contains especially creative and innovative modeling; and 3) shows good understanding of interdisciplinary science. The award honors the name of a 18th-century Swiss applied mathematician, who was known for the breadth of his research applications, volume of written work, excellent teaching, and interdisciplinarity.
The Rachel Carson Award honors an American conservationist whose book "Silent Spring" initiated the global environmental movement and whose work spanned many disciplines concerned with the local and global environments. This award is presented to a team selected by the Head Judge of ICM Problem E for excellence in using scientific theory and data in its modeling.
Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian scholar, modeler and problem solver, who at various times was an engineer, sociologist, economist, political scientist, mathematician, and philosopher. He lived and worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The ICM Pareto Award for outstanding modeling in the Policy Modeling problem (ICM Problem F) honors the work and legacy of this famous social science problem solver. In particular for this award, the head judge seeks to highlight a paper that best models the more dynamic and challenging contextual human elements that make simplification or refinement of policy models so difficult.
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) is the largest society in the world for professionals in the field of operations research (OR), management science (MS), and analytics. INFORMS has long recognized the importance of involving undergraduate students and faculty in an uned process of mathematical modeling whose problems contain many of the modern elements seen by its membership. The MCM/ICM exemplifies these characteristics. Consequently, INFORMS has been an active supporter of the MCM/ICM since its inception.
INFORMS carefully selects and designates a single Outstanding team from each of the six problems - A, B, C, D, E, F - as an INFORMS Outstanding winning team whose modeling and analyses best exemplify the style and content reflected in its membership's professional practice. Each student receives a letter of congratulations from the current INFORMS President, a complimentary one-year INFORMS student membership, and an individual cash award. Each associated faculty advisor receives a letter of congratulations and appreciation from the current INFORMS President, along with complimentary one-year access to the full suite of award-winning INFORMS journals.
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) will designate one Outstanding team from each MCM problem as a SIAM winner.
Deion of the Award
Student Team Members:
Each student member of the winning team will receive a cash award of $500 and three one-year student memberships in SIAM. Team members’ travel expenses will be reimbursed by SIAM up to $650 for domestic travel or $800 for international travel. A one-year student membership in SIAM will be given to each member of non-winning teams judged as "Outstanding" by the official contest judges.
Faculty Adviser:
A suitable certificate for the home institutions will be given to the faculty advisers of the winning teams
The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) will designate one Outstanding team from each problem for the MCM as a MAA winner. Each student member of the winning team will receive a certificate. MAA will partial reimburse teams travel expenses to Math Fest so that they may present their paper.
