MCM/ICM Contest

2024 MCM/ICM
February 1-5, 2024

The 2023 Spring MCM/ICM results are now available.


Spring MCM/ICM Each team may choose any one of the two problem choices and should submit a solution to only one problem.

Problem Y: MCM data related problem.
Problem Z: ICM related problem.

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 team to win the International COMAP Scholarship Award, and more. Click here for more details.

What's in it for your school? The recognition and prestige of being part of COMAP's 34th 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 Modeling where research, analytics and applied intelligence reign along with less-quantifiable factors like timing and luck. Think you're up to it?

Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM), an international contest for high school students and college undergraduates. It challenges teams of students to clarify, analyze, and propose solutions to open-ended problems. The contest attracts diverse students and faculty advisors from over 900 institutions around the world.

The Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM), is an extension of the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM). It is designed to develop and advance interdisciplinary problem-solving skills as well as competence in written communication.


Follow us @COMAPMath on Twitter or COMAPCHINAOFFICIAL on Weibo for the most up to date contest information.


 

Prizes/Certificates:


The International COMAP Scholarship Award will be awarded to the one (1) top MCM/ICM team from any of the participating teams; $9000 being split among the team members and $1000 to the school represented.


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. Click here to download MCM/ICM certificates.

  • 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 unscripted 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 and a complimentary one-year INFORMS student membership. 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 six teams, one each for problems A, B, C, D, E, and F from the MCM/ICM as an SIAM winner.

 


The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) will designate up to six teams, at most one each for problems A, B, C, D, E, and F from the MCM/ICM as an MAA winner.

 


The American Statistical Association (ASA) will designate one Outstanding team from MCM Problem C as a ASA winner.

 


The American Mathematical Society (AMS) will designate six teams, one each for problems A, B, C, D, E, and F from the MCM/ICM as an AMS winner.