The Math Modeling Competition is a nationwide competition sponsored by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). It is designed to stimulate and improve real-world problem-solving and writing skills in a team setting. Each team is composed of three students, with two teams possible per department.
Each team is presented with two problems and chooses one. The team may use computers, software packages, libraries, or any other inanimate sources to find solutions. The problems tend to be open-ended and unlikely to have a unique solution. You must pay attention to the clarity, analysis, and design of your solution, although partial solutions are acceptable.
All successful participants receive a certificate. Outstanding teams receive bronze plaques and have their solution papers published in the UMAP journal. The Operations Research Society of America (ORSA) will also designate one Outstanding team from each problem as an ORSA winner. These two teams will be awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to the ORSA national meeting and receive free ORSA student membership.
The Society for Industrial Mathematics will also designate one Outstanding team from each problem as a SIAM winner. Each SIAM winning team will receive a certificate, a cash prize, and partial expenses for a trip to the SIAM annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA.
See your adviser or the Math Office for more information.