2021 MCM Contest - COMAP

1 2021 Mathematical Contest in Modeling Press Release April 23, 2021 COMAP is pleased to announce the results of the 37th annual Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM). This year, 10,053 teams representing institutions from fifteen countries/regions participated in the Contest . Seventeen teams from the following institutions were designated as OUTSTANDING WINNERS: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (3) (2100454 SIAM Award & COMAP Scholarship Award) Beijing Institute of Technology, China (Ben Fusaro Award) Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, China (Frank Giordano Award & SIAM Award) Jiangnan University, China Xi'an Jiaotong University, China (AMS Award) Xidian University, Shannxi, China Beijing Jiaotong University, China (ASA Award) University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA (MAA Award, SIAM Award & COMAP Scholarship Award) University of Oxford, United Kingdom (INFORMS Award & AMS Award) Chongqing University, China National University of Defense Technology, China Central South University, China (INFORMS Award)

2 University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China (AMS Award) Soochow University, China Hohai University, China This year s Contest ran over a single weekend from Thursday, February 4 to Monday, February 8, 2021. During that time, teams of three students researched, modeled, and wrote a solution to an open-ended real world modeling problem. The 2021 MCM was an online Contest , where teams registered and obtained Contest materials through COMAP s MCM Website. The 2021 MCM problems represented a variety of challenging problems spanning the familiar to new. Each problem required teams to apply unique mathematical modeling skills to answer the questions posed. All three problems were created by the MCM Problem Committee, a unique blend of academicians and industry professionals with many years of mathematical modeling experience.

3 Teams again had to be at the top of their game to excel. The A problem asked teams to model and analyze the relationship of traits of fungi with the rate of decomposition of plant material and woody fibers. Using results of a broader research study, this problem focused on two specific traits of fungi, growth rate and moisture tolerance, in asking teams to address several questions. How do different fungi interact and decompose ground litter in different environments? How is decomposition impacted over time as conditions vary? How do environmental changes impact the long-term dynamics of decomposition? Additionally, teams predicted relative advantages and disadvantages for fungi species and combinations of species like to persist is various environments. The B problem used the scenario of the 2019-2020 fire season in Australia, which saw devastating wildfires in every state, to consider the use of drones in firefighting.

4 Teams learned of the capabilities of two types of drones, surveillance and situational awareness drones and hovering drones that can carry repeaters (to extend radio range), and then created a model to determine the optimal numbers and mix of these two types of drones. Teams addressed adaptation of their model to the changing likelihood of extreme fire events over the next decade, as well as to equipment cost increases. Teams also developed a model to optimize locations of hovering drones for fires of differing sizes on differing terrain. The C problem investigated the discovery and sightings of Vespa mandarina (also known as the Asian giant hornet) in the State of Washington. After providing some background information and a significant amount of data , teams addressed several questions.

5 How can we interpret the data provided by the public reports? What strategies can we use to prioritize these public reports for additional investigation given limited resources? As most reported sightings of the Vespa madarina are erroneous, teams developed a model to predict the likelihood of a mistaken classification. Teams then used their model to prioritize the investigation of reports most likely to be positive sightings. Additionally, teams addressed possible updates to their model over time and indicators of eradication. A selection from the Outstanding solution papers will be featured in The UMAP Journal, along with commentaries from the problem authors and judges. All 10,053 of the competing teams are to be congratulated for their excellent work and enthusiasm for mathematical modeling and interdisciplinary problem solving.

6 2021 MCM Statistics 10053 Teams Participated 4487 Problem A (45%) 3105 Problem B (31%) 2461 Problem C (24%) 17 Outstanding Winners (<1%) 284 Finalist Winners (2%) 697 Meritorious Winners (7%) 2414 Honorable Mentions (24%) 6400 Successful Participants (64%) 26 Unsuccessful Participants (<1%) 204 Disqualified (2%) 11 Not Judged (<1%) To obtain additional information about the MCM and to obtain a complete listing of all team designations, please visit the MCM Website at: , or contact COMAP at: Major funding for the MCM is provided by COMAP . Additional support is provided by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and Two Sigma Investments. COMAP 's Mathematical Contest in Modeling and Interdisciplinay Contest in Modeling are unique among modeling competitions in that they are the only international contests in which students work in teams to find a solution.

7 Centering its educational philosophy on mathematical modeling, COMAP uses mathematical tools to explore real-world problems. It serves the educational community as well as the world of work by preparing students to become better informed and prepared citizens, consumers, and workers. Contest Director Steven B. Horton, COMAP , Inc., Bedford, MA Executive Director Solomon A. Garfunkel, COMAP , Inc., Bedford, MA Associate Director William C. Bauldry, Appalachian State University, NC Founding Director Ben Fusaro, Florida State University, FL MCM Problem A Contest ResultsInstitutionCtrl #Country/RegionAdvisorProblem Designation2021 Shanghai Jiao Tong University2100454 ChinaXiaofeng GaoAOutstanding Winner SIAM Award COMAP ScholarshipBeijing Institute of Technology2101951 ChinaWang hongzhouAOutstanding WinnerBen Fusaro AwardJiangnan University2103782 ChinaZhang jingxiangAOutstanding WinnerChongqing University2110178 ChinaBin XuAOutstanding WinnerCentral South University2120808 ChinaZHANG DianzhongAOutstanding WinnerINFORMS AwardUniversity of Electronic Science and2122025 ChinaLi MingqiAOutstanding WinnerAMS AwardShandong Jianzhu University2101337 ChinaQingli ZhaoAFinalistHarbin Engineering University2101356 ChinaZhang LijianAFinalistShanghai Jiao Tong University2101889 ChinaXiaofeng

8 GaoAFinalistHuazhong University of Science and2101998 ChinaWu JieAFinalistJiaxing University2102124 ChinaXiangqing KongAFinalistHuazhong University of Science and2102198 ChinaXinyu LiAFinalistHohai University2102218 ChinaXinyi ZhouAFinalistMCM Problem A Contest ResultsInstitutionCtrl #Country/RegionAdvisorProblem Designation2021 South China University of Technology2102243 ChinaPing HuangAFinalistSouth China University of Technology2102266 ChinaYongkuan ChengAFinalistSoutheast University2102343 ChinaXingang JiaAFinalistSoutheast University2102344 ChinaXingang JiaAFinalistSoutheast University2102380 ChinaDan HeAFinalistTongji University2102479 ChinaBin ChenAFinalistNanJing University of Posts and2102528 ChinaFan XiaonaAFinalistNanjing University of Posts and2102590 ChinaQinglun YanAFinalistChongqing University2102671 ChinaQu GongAFinalistXiamen University2102700 ChinaKunyue DengAFinalistBeijing University of Posts and2102760 ChinaLiu YikunAFinalistTiangong University2102788 ChinaLi YuelongAFinalistSouth China Normal University2102831 ChinaZhitian HouAFinalistMCM Problem A Contest ResultsInstitutionCtrl #Country/RegionAdvisorProblem Designation2021 Jiangnan University2102848 ChinaZhang JingxiangAFinalistShenyang Jianzhu University2102921 ChinaTong ZengAFinalistJiangnan University2102943 ChinaShi QingyanAFinalistBeijing University of Chemical Technology2103051 ChinaXinhua JiangAFinalistTongji University2103128 ChinaXiaoqiu AiAFinalistSouth China University of Technology2103178 ChinaYongkuan ChengAFinalistSouth China University of

9 Technology2103185 ChinaPing HuangAFinalistDalian University of Technology2103237 ChinaQiuhui PanAFinalistSoutheast University2103254 ChinaEnshui ChenAFinalistZhejiang University2103335 ChinaKE XUAF inalistHebei University of Technology2103429 ChinaJie MaAFinalistSouth China University of Technology2103677 ChinaYongan QinAFinalistNanjing University of Posts and2103986 ChinaKong GaohuaAFinalistMCM Problem A Contest ResultsInstitutionCtrl #Country/RegionAdvisorProblem Designation2021 Southeast University2104106 ChinaEnshui ChenAFinalistSichuan Universtiy2108772 ChinaHuang LiAFinalistShanghai Jiao Tong University2108787 ChinaXiaofeng GaoAFinalistXI'AN JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY2110414 ChinaMa JunAFinalistBeihang University2110416 ChinaNa WangAFinalistNanjing University2110502 ChinaPeiyuan WangAFinalistTiangong University2110545 ChinaShengjin HuoAFinalistChangsha University of2113255 ChinaChuangxia HuangAFinalistHarbin Institute of Technology2113964 ChinaWenjuan YaoAFinalistSouth China University of Technology2114279 ChinaYongan QinAFinalistChina Three Gorges University2114449 ChinaZhengying CaiAFinalistHuazhong University of Science and2114607 ChinaYuchen ZhaoAFinalistHenan University2115194 ChinaYunyi WangAFinalistMCM Problem A Contest ResultsInstitutionCtrl #Country/RegionAdvisorProblem Designation2021 Beihang University2115619 ChinaBinghui GuoAFinalistHuazhong University of Science and2115845 ChinaKaiding LiAFinalistLiaoning Uiversity2116278 ChinaRuicheng MaAFinalistSUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY2116283 ChinaYun JiangAFinalistSuzhou University

10 Of Science and2116330 CHINAYao ChengAFinalistXiamen University2116438 ChinaYunfeng WuAFinalistNorthwestern Polytechnical University2117212 ChinaPengyu WangAFinalistHefei University of Technology2117400 ChinaWu BofuAFinalistNorth University of China2117583 ChinaKong HuihuaAFinalistHuazhong University of Science and2118234 ChinaJinjin HeAFinalistShandong University, Weihai2118683 ChinaXinwei GuoAFinalistZhejiang University2119508 ChinaWANG XingmingAFinalistZhejiang University2119513 ChinaWANG XingmingAFinalistMCM Problem A Contest ResultsInstitutionCtrl #Country/RegionAdvisorProblem Designation2021 Zhejiang University2119515 ChinaWANG XingmingAFinalistNorth China Electric Power University2120693 CHINAShi HuifengAFinalistNorthwestern Polytechnical University2123601 ChinaShen JianghuaAFinalistUniversity of Electronic Science and2124000 ChinaZhiyong WangAFinalistSouth China Normal University2124657 ChinaXinshu TuAFinalistHangzhou Dianzi University2124798 ChinaZheyong QiuAFinalistBeijing Normal University2126684 ChinaXinhui YuAFinalistRensselaer Polytechnic Institute2126876 USAP eter KramerAFinalistMAA AwardHuazhong University of