Cornell Mathematical Contest in Modeling

Get a glimpse of what Applied Mathematicians might do outside of Academia!

Short summary: CMCM is an annual university-wide competition for undergraduates (from freshmen to seniors). It attracts students from many majors/departments. Each team of 3 undergraduates works on an open-ended ("real-world") problem, builds a mathematical model, obtains a solution based on it, and writes a detailed paper (proving the feasibility of the team's model and solution) - all this in the space of less than 4 days!
You can: brainstorm with your two teammates, use any reference materials either printed or on the web, write your own software or utilize publicly available to validate your model.
You cannot: consult with anyone besides your teammates, submit your solutions after the deadline, or remain bored in the process.

CMCM is usually conducted in November -- the exact schedule for the current year is posted below. Two to four winning teams are then selected to represent Cornell at the international MCM -- an annual contest conducted in January/February and attracting 15,000+ teams from 20+ countries.

Reasons to participate in CMCM:

research experience;
$400+ in prizes every year;
looks cool on your resume;
winners of CMCM qualify for the International MCM (thousands of teams, prestigious prizes, looks really cool on your resume).

CMCM is co-sponsored by the Department of Mathematics, ORIE, Engaged Cornell and Cornell Campus Store.

For those interested:

To subscribe to our mailing list: please send an email to join-cmcm-l@list.cornell.edu

To register your team: If you have already formed a team, you can register it by leaving a comment here.
You can also use the same link to tell other participants that you are looking for a team to join.
Alternatively, you can find team-mates at one of our practice sessions.

Practice sessions (listed below) are very useful -- particularly if this is your first time in CMCM -- please consider attending! If you don't have a full team yet, practice sessions are also a good place to find potential team-mates.

Short instructions for CMCM participants:

If you have not done so yet, please register your team and join our mailing list (see the instructions above).
The problem statement will be posted here when the contest starts (at 5pm on 11/10/2023).
Spend the weekend conducting research, building model(s), and writing up your solution(s).
All published materials, internet resources, and software are fair game - but don't forget to attribute whenever appropriate.
You cannot discuss your work with anyone besides your team-mates.
Submit an electronic version of your paper here by 9:30am on Monday (11/13/2023).
The judges & all CMCM participants will be able to read it & will 'reply' with their comments on your manuscript.
Don't forget to have fun in the process!

Good luck!

Time-line for 2023-24:

Oct 31, 2023: Information/training session; 4:30-6:00pm, location: 253 Malott Hall.

Nov 6, 2023: Information/training session; 4:30-6:00pm, location: 253 Malott Hall.

Nov 10, 2023: Cornell MCM starts at 5pm. (The assignment will be posted here.)

Nov 13, 2023: Cornell MCM ends at 9:30am.

Feb 1-5, 2024: The winners of CMCM 2023 represent Cornell at the international MCM 2024.

Modeling problems are selected from all fields of science, engineering, and industry.

A quick note to visitors from outside Cornell University.

The full list of problems used in CMCM:

2023-24	If you spot a lantern fly...	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2022-23	Slow down, you move too fast...	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2021-22	Closer to Cayuga's Waters.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2020-21	The "Where" and "When" of food distribution.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2019-20	Walking on the side: a very concrete problem.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2018-19	Where's an ambulance when you need one?	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2017-18	TCAT: Hybrid buses.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2016-17	Mosquito Bites.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2015-16	Red Sun in the Morning.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2014-15	Warmer Days or Sour Grapes ?	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2013-14	All hail a cab!	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2012-13	Hurricane preparedness.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2011-12	A drive-through campus.	(student solutions & judges' comments -- for Cornell use only!)
2010-11	Big Brother Is Watching You!	(student solutions are not available online)
2009-10	Ashes to ashes.	(student solutions are not available online)
2008-09	Saving the Grass - One Walkway at a Time.	(student solutions are not available online)
2007-08	On Many Paths Toward Diversity.	(student solutions are not available online)
2006-07	Groundwater Contamination.	(student solutions are not available online)
2005-06	Preventing An Avian Flu Pandemic.	(student solutions are not available online)
2004-05	Budgeting Presidential Elections.	(student solutions are not available online)
2003-04	Museum Security. Going negative.	(student solutions are not available online)
2002-03	Making a map. Interpreting Graph-like Artifacts.	(student solutions are not available online)

A few representative problems from the international MCM:

estimating the maximum "safe" number of people for a given type of public facilities;
studying hunting strategies for velociraptor dinosaurs based on fossil data;
comparing various grading policies for fighting the "grade inflation";
providing the guidelines for selecting the design of bicycle wheels to optimize the performance on a given track;
considering the effects of different airline overbooking strategies on the overall profitability.

Things to consider about the international contest:

MCM is not so much about what you already know , but more about what you can learn quickly in the new application area.
Last year 15,105 teams participated representing institutions from 22 countries.
It's worth noting that one of Cornell teams won the MCM contest in 2009 (they were ranked among the top 9 teams, all of which were rated "Outstanding") and have received a special award from INFORMS. In 2012 one of Cornell teams got the 2nd highest ranking ("Finalist") and a special award from another sponsor (MAA). Yet another team from Cornell won the related "Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling" (ICM 2012) -- their solution was ranked "Outstanding" (among the top 7) and they also received a special award from INFORMS.
We will have two to four teams representing Cornell next year (selected among CMCM winners).
Several preparation sessions will be held for the potential participants.