MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge

Ages:High School

Type:Submission

Categories:Mathematics, STEM

Scope:International

Contact


M3challenge@siam.org
267-350-6336

MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge (http://m3challenge.siam.org) is an Internet-based applied math competition for high school juniors and seniors known for inspiring them to pursue STEM majors and careers. Working in teams of three to five, participants solve an open-ended, math-modeling problem focused on a realistic issue – in 14 hours. The contest, organized by Society for Industrial and
Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and sponsored by leading software developer MathWorks, is free and open to all U.S. students and will award top teams this year with $100,000 in scholarships toward the pursuit of higher education. M3 Challenge has given more than $1.3 million in scholarships to date and has been listed as an approved contest by the National Association of Secondary School Principals since 2010.

Students submit a written paper with a mathematical model that solves a specific real-world problem posed each year.

M3 Judges decide which teams receive a share of up to $100,000 in scholarship prizes. After the close of Challenge weekend, applied mathematicians serving as triage judges read and score each solution paper according to the competition guidelines to identify the best submissions. Each paper is read by a minimum of two, and as many as five triage judges. During the second round of judging, a smaller group of contention judges extensively reads and discusses the remaining papers to select those worthy of semi-finalist and honorable mention awards, and tentatively ranks the top six finalist teams. During these first two rounds, all solution papers are judged blind, meaning that judges only see the team ID #. Solution papers with identifying marks other than the team ID #, such as school name or student names, are disqualified from top prizes. The third and final phase of judging involves presentations by the six finalist teams. A panel of Ph.D.-level professional mathematicians confirms the champ, runner up, and third place winner of these top six teams, with the remaining three teams receiving “Finalist” distinction. Team scholarship prizes of $5,000 to $20,000 are presented at the awards ceremony that follows.
Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Finalist

Team Award. $5000.

Meritorious Team Prize for 3 teams

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge 3rd Place

Team Award. $10000.

Cum Laude Team Prize

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Runner Up

Team Award. $15000.

Magna Cum Laude Team Prize

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Champions

Team Award. $20000.

Summa Cum Laude Team Prize

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Technical Computing Awards

Team Award. $1000-3000.

Website: https://m3challenge.siam.org/

Managing Organization: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)

Contact:

M3challenge@siam.org
267-350-6336

Eligibility:
11th and 12th graders from anywhere in the United States, including territories and DoDEA schools, and sixth form students in England and Wales may participate. Homeschool and cyberschool students in those areas are also eligible. Teams must be comprised of three to five students and one teacher-coach and a maximum of two teams per school may register.

Registration Opens: November 1, 2023

Registration Closes: February 23, 2024

Overview

MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge (http://m3challenge.siam.org) is an Internet-based applied math competition for high school juniors and seniors known for inspiring them to pursue STEM majors and careers. Working in teams of three to five, participants solve an open-ended, math-modeling problem focused on a realistic issue – in 14 hours. The contest, organized by Society for Industrial and
Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and sponsored by leading software developer MathWorks, is free and open to all U.S. students and will award top teams this year with $100,000 in scholarships toward the pursuit of higher education. M3 Challenge has given more than $1.3 million in scholarships to date and has been listed as an approved contest by the National Association of Secondary School Principals since 2010.

Process

Students submit a written paper with a mathematical model that solves a specific real-world problem posed each year.

Criteria

M3 Judges decide which teams receive a share of up to $100,000 in scholarship prizes. After the close of Challenge weekend, applied mathematicians serving as triage judges read and score each solution paper according to the competition guidelines to identify the best submissions. Each paper is read by a minimum of two, and as many as five triage judges. During the second round of judging, a smaller group of contention judges extensively reads and discusses the remaining papers to select those worthy of semi-finalist and honorable mention awards, and tentatively ranks the top six finalist teams. During these first two rounds, all solution papers are judged blind, meaning that judges only see the team ID #. Solution papers with identifying marks other than the team ID #, such as school name or student names, are disqualified from top prizes. The third and final phase of judging involves presentations by the six finalist teams. A panel of Ph.D.-level professional mathematicians confirms the champ, runner up, and third place winner of these top six teams, with the remaining three teams receiving “Finalist” distinction. Team scholarship prizes of $5,000 to $20,000 are presented at the awards ceremony that follows.

Awards

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Finalist

Team Award. $5000.

Meritorious Team Prize for 3 teams

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge 3rd Place

Team Award. $10000.

Cum Laude Team Prize

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Runner Up

Team Award. $15000.

Magna Cum Laude Team Prize

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Champions

Team Award. $20000.

Summa Cum Laude Team Prize

Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge Technical Computing Awards

Team Award. $1000-3000.

Participate

Website: https://m3challenge.siam.org/

Managing Organization: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)

Contact:

M3challenge@siam.org
267-350-6336

Eligibility:
11th and 12th graders from anywhere in the United States, including territories and DoDEA schools, and sixth form students in England and Wales may participate. Homeschool and cyberschool students in those areas are also eligible. Teams must be comprised of three to five students and one teacher-coach and a maximum of two teams per school may register.

Deadlines

Registration Opens: November 1, 2023

Registration Closes: February 23, 2024