Source: School of Mathematics and Computational Science
Written by: Guan Yanhui, Li Juncheng
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

The results of MCM/ICM 2013 were announced on April 1. It is the fourth successive year for contestants in Sun Yat-sen University to gain a designation of Finalist, which is awarded to the team of Huang Zhijian, Cheng Jun and Xian Shengda from School of Mathematics and Computational Science. With 29 Meritorious Winners, 43 Honorable Mentions, the winning rate is 65%. The number of SYSU students who have participated in this year’s contest culminates, reaching 336. They are from ten schools and departments majoring in science, engineering, medicine, economics, management, etc.

The contest, organized by COMPA and sponsored by SIAM, INFORMS, MAA and CSIAM, consists of Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM). It is regarded as the most influencing and competitive contest, with the aim to encourage students to give their own clarification and analysis of open-ended problems. Each team would build up their own paper, providing answers to the validity of results, robustness of the model, potential problems and feasible solutions based on analysis. The solution paper should show a good command of English by writing in a well-organized style.

Candidates this year can choose to optimize the shape of pan and baker, accommodate the transfer, storage of water resources or analyze effects of global environmental protection. Using the heat equation, wavelet analysis, randomized Marklov chain and complex network, participants address the complicated problem in a tactful way. Huang Zhijian, Cheng Jun and Xian Shengda attribute their success to teamwork.

The team also benefited from the support of the University Dean’s Office and the School of Mathematics and Computational Science, and they appreciated the guidance of faculty advisors and the constant promotion by MCdoing Studio.