One of the problems faced by teams in the Mathematics Contest in Modeling involved the role fungi play in the decomposition of dead plant and wood material. (Adobe Stock/Yuliia Kishun)
Students’ Problem-Solving Recognized in International Math Modeling Contest
Participants took on real-world problems involving fungi, music and higher education
Eleven students from the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences put their problem-solving skills — and their teamwork — to the test in an international math modeling competition.
Hosted by the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP), the contest challenged students to devise solutions to real-world problems in 96 hours. Two UF teams faced more than 10,000 other groups in the 37th annual Mathematics Contest in Modeling (MCM), while another two teams were among more than 16,000 in the 23rd annual Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM).
To meet the challenge, students had to acquaint themselves with some unfamiliar topics: Two teams examined how fungi contributes to the decomposition of dead plant material and wood fibers, while another measured how pieces of music can influence an entire genre. A fourth was tasked with developing a system to assess the health of systems of higher education.
Congratulations to the students who were recognized for their solutions.
Team 1 – Fungi
Successful Participant
Sydney Edwards
Sarah Foster
Hani Samamah
Team 2 – Fungi
Successful Participant
Shane Gladson
Calvin Korponai
Team 3 – The Influence of Music
Honorable Mention
Jude Flynn
Julia Franck
John Ridgeway
Team 4: Checking the Pulse and Temperature of Higher Education
Successful Participant
Allison Cerlanek
Sydney Nelson
Alexandra Zidel
