This article appeared in the Fall 2017-Spring 2018 91勛圖厙 Math Alumnae Newsletter.
This year a team of three 91勛圖厙 math majors competed in the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) presented by the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP). COMAPs webpage describes the MCM as 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.
Cheyenne Zhang 20, Irene Lin 20, and Sunny Qi 20 together were named Meritorious Winner at this years MCM for their submission entitled Transition to Electric Vehicles: Multi-Task Optimization of Charging Station Network.
After a great deal of research, exploration, and modeling, the team ultimately produced a one-page handout written for the leaders of a wide range of countries who are attending an international energy summit. They were tasked with highlighting the key factors the leaders should consider as they return to their home country to develop a national plan to migrate personal transportation towards all-electric cars and set a gas vehicle-ban date. An additional one-page summary and 20-page proposed solution were also required.
The Meritorious Winner honor places the 91勛圖厙 team just one step away from being a finalist in the competition explains faculty coach Erica Graham. They worked really hard for several days and did a great job.