Instructions and Rules for SCUDEM XI 2026

These Instructions and Rules only apply to the SCUDEM Challenge.

SCUDEM XI 2026 Dates and Times:

• Registration Open: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
• Registration Deadline: Before 2:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 16, 2026.
• Challenge Starts: 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 16, 2026.
• Challenge Ends: 3:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
• Challenge Results: Results will be available Mid-December, 2026.

Changes for 2026:

1. COMAP is organizing SCUDEM this year.
2. Coaches and all Team Members register together in one convenient, streamlined process.
3. One charge of $100 per team covers your entire roster, regardless of team size.
4. Students are required to upload an AI Use Report consistent with the Use of AI Tools in COMAP Contests policy.

Notes:

• COMAP is in the USA Eastern time zone: all times given in these instructions are in terms of Eastern Standard Time (EST) except where local time is noted.
• COMAP is the final arbiter of all rules and policies, and may refuse to register, disqualify, or reduce the award level of any team that, in its sole discretion, does not follow the rules, regulations, or requirements.
• Decisions of the judges and the challenge directors are final.

I. Participants and Coaches

Team Members: A team may consist of up to three students currently enrolled in school. Students may be enrolled in any department or program at the school and do not need to be from the same school. There is no limit to the number of teams a school may register. The challenge is open to all undergraduate and high school students. The coach or team member must complete the registration process for each team.

School or Institution: For the purposes of participating in the SCUDEM challenge, a student's school or institution is the primary and comprehensive full-time provider for all of the student members' education studies in all subjects. Tutoring, test-prep, contest-prep, and math- or STEM-learning centers are not considered schools/institutions for the purposes of registering and competing in the SCUDEM challenge.

Coach: Any faculty, staff member, or student can fulfill the role of coach. The role of the coach for each team is to prepare the team members for participation in SCUDEM by engaging in and demonstrating the usefulness of differential equations in modern problem solving. The mentorship of extracurricular mathematical education can develop students beyond usual differential equations education thresholds. The coach will act as the main point of contact for the team, and does not have to be from the mathematics department.

II. Challenge Instructions Rules

1. SCUDEM is for 3 member teams of students at the undergraduate or high school level.

2. Each team will have a coach.

3. The registration fee for SCUDEM is $100 per team. Please register only the teams that will take part in the challenge. Registration fees are non-refundable. We accept payment via Credit Card, PayPal and payment must be made via our secure web site.

4. All teams must be registered before 2:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 16, 2026. We recommend that all teams complete the registration process well in advance, since the registration system will not accept any new team registrations after the deadline. COMAP will not accept late registrations for SCUDEM XI 2026 under any circumstances.

5. Challenge begins 3:00 p.m. EST Friday, October 16, 2026 with the posting of Challenge problems to each team and coach.

6. During the challenge period, no assistance from living people other than your team members can be used on the problem effort. Coaches are free to help their teams prepare before the challenge begins. During the challenge, coaches are limited to moral support — we recommend pep talks and check-ins to be sure the group is working together in a positive manner.

7. The challenge problems become available for teams to view at precisely 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 16, 2026 on the SCUDEM web site: /scudem/previous_problems.html
No password is needed to view the problems. Simply go to the web site at or after 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 16, 2026 and you will see a link to view the problems.

8. The team should produce a self-contained video of no longer than 10 minutes explaining your solution to one and only one of the challenge problems.

Problem A: Physics/Engineering

Problem B: Chemistry/Life sciences

Problem C: Social Sciences

8. The first screen of the video must contain 1) assigned Team number, 2) Problem Letter (A, B, or C) and title, and 3) full name of team members and coach including institution with full location (city, state/province, and country/region) for each.

9. Student team submissions will be in English and judge comments will also be in English.

10. Videos should be uploaded to YouTube and with Visibility set to Unlisted, and a SCUDEM Team Video Submission Form submitted before the end of the Challenge.

11. Challenge ends 3:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

III. Use of AI Tools in the SCUDEM Challenge

Solving the problems does not require the use of AI tools, although their responsible use is permitted.

Teams that elect to use AI tools in any part of their modeling work and/or submission are required to submit a AI Use report as part of the SCUDEM Team Video Submission Form.

General guidance for teams:

1. Clearly indicate the use of AI tools in their Use of AI report, including which model was used and for what purpose. Report on Use of AI (described below).

2. Verify the accuracy, validity, and appropriateness of the content generated by language models and correct any errors or inconsistencies.

3. Provide citation and references, following guidance provided here. Double-check citations to ensure they are accurate and are properly referenced.

4. Be conscious of the potential for plagiarism since LLMs may reproduce substantial text from other sources. Check the original sources to be sure you are not plagiarizing someone else's work.

Click here to download the COMAP AI policy with examples.

IV. Judging Results and Designations

What are the differences between the designations?

Successful Participant - The team made a concerted effort to respond to the challenge problem, developing and defending a model involving differential equations. The video presentation conveyed the basic idea and rationale for the model but showed some deficiencies in execution, communication, or correctness.

Meritorious - The team produced an excellent video presentation of its solution to the challenge problem using differential equations modeling. The presentation was generally well-executed, well-communicated, and essentially correct, though it may have had minor flaws or errors in one of these areas.

Outstanding Winner - The designation Outstanding recognizes teams whose video presentations are determined, in judging, to be the "best of the best": well-executed, well-communicated, and essentially correct, and offering thoughtful reflection on the model. These videos represent the highest level of exemplary student work in differential equations modeling relative to all contest submissions and are published on the COMAP YouTube channel for public viewing.