outstanding performance by slhr students in the 2024 mcm/icm competition
july 21, 2024the mathematical contest in modeling/interdisciplinary contest in modeling (mcm/icm), organized by the consortium for mathematics and its applications (comap), is one of the most influential mathematical modeling competitions globally.
according to statistics, a total of 28,912 teams participated in the 2024 mcm/icm competition, marking a 16% increase from last year. amidst this competitive backdrop, the school of labor and human resources saw remarkable success, with two students receiving the meritorious winner (m) award and eight students receiving the successful participant (s) award.
among the winners, a team led by miao yirong, a 2023 undergraduate student from the slhr, achieved the prestigious meritorious winner award, which is awarded to approximately 7% of participants globally. leading his team to this honor in his freshman year, miao shared insights into the journey behind this achievement.
interest-driven preparation for the challenge
miao yirong, a freshman majoring in human resource management at the slhr, first learned about the competition through a school announcement. 'i have a keen interest in mathematics, so i decided to participate during my freshman winter break,' miao recalled. this decision marked the beginning of his challenge in the competition.
upon deciding to compete, miao began intensive preparations a month in advance, self-studying mathematical modeling techniques and data analysis methods, such as ahp, topsis, entropy weight method, nonlinear regression models, and arima. he also familiarized himself with software tools like python, matlab, and origin. 'with systematic learning, i felt more confident in tackling the competition problems,' said miao.
the academic environment and experiences at the slhr broadened his horizons and enhanced his communication skills, laying a solid foundation for better teamwork and performance in the competition. courses like calculus, principles of management, and introductory psychology contributed to his ability to organize team work, maintain good team relationships, and choose and build analytical models.
teamwork and complementarity
as a team of three first-time participants, miao and his teammates collaborated closely, overcoming communication barriers through online interactions during the long preparation period and the intense competition. given that none of the team members had a traditional stem background, they focused on icm topics. miao, as the team leader, handled data analysis and modeling, while his teammates, xie yutong and zhang yibing, were responsible for paper writing, graphic design, and coding, respectively.
'our harmonious team dynamics allowed me to concentrate on my tasks while valuing my teammates' suggestions. this synergy was crucial during the competition,' miao shared. he emphasized the importance of clear presentation and meticulous editing of their work, which significantly contributed to their success.
data-driven persistence
data is the core of mathematical modeling. the greatest challenge miao faced was data collection. 'the competition doesn't provide direct data; we had to find everything ourselves,' he explained. this involved extensive online searches, even amidst technical issues like database crashes.
after collecting data, the team faced the complex task of verifying its accuracy. 'we needed valid data, but the internet is full of discrepancies. i had to cross-check and validate data through other indicators,' miao noted. despite these challenges, the team successfully gathered and calibrated data to build their models.
miao detailed their modeling process, explaining the use of entropy weight method and topsis for optimization, a cmu model for broader analysis, and machine learning models for keyword detection and time series forecasting. his experience underscored the importance of data understanding and algorithm application in successful mathematical modeling.
the competition not only brought miao recognition but also significantly enhanced his skills and mindset. 'i learned various data processing and analysis methods, improved my communication and collaboration skills, and enriched my academic experience,' he said. the four-day competition was a rigorous test of their abilities, but maintaining a positive attitude and supporting each other helped them navigate through the challenges.
miao hopes to share his experience and insights with more students, encouraging them to balance time management and teamwork and persevere until the end.