This article appeared in the Fall 2017-Spring 2018 Bryn Mawr Math Alumnae Newsletter.
This year a team of three Bryn Mawr math majors competed in the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) presented by the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP). COMAP’s 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 year’s 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 Bryn Mawr 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.”