Student Perspectives

Title: Mathematical Modeling Experience Sharing Session

Location: WDR 1003

Date: 2025.11.28 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Zoom: 610 581 1266

Speaker: Yanjing Tu, Yunrong Gu, Yixuan Gao

Abstract:

For novices lacking prior competition experience, the CUMCM presents a significant challenge: delivering a high-quality model and paper within a strict 72-hour window.

Despite being first-time participants, the team secured a Provincial First Prize through rigorous strategy execution and efficient collaboration. Their performance demonstrates that mathematical modeling is not merely a test of theoretical knowledge, but an engineering problem of resource management and process optimization.

Rather than relying on rote practice, we propose analyzing a successful “sample” to extract replicable methodologies. This speech moves beyond traditional problem-solving tutorials to review the competition through the lens of project management.

Key Takeaways:

Avoiding the “1+1+1<3” Trap: Specific protocols for novice teams to eliminate collaborative friction and ensuring that collective output exceeds the sum of individual efforts.

Engineering Approach: Decomposing the 72-hour timeline into manageable units and establishing fault-tolerance mechanisms for decision-making.

Toolchain Optimization: A showcase of validated modeling libraries and high-efficiency typesetting workflows used in actual competition.

Profile：

Yanjing Tu

Yanjing Tu is a Junior majoring in Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences (Computer Science track). With a strong passion for algorithmic research, her academic focus centers on anomaly detection and its deployment in complex real-world applications.

During the CUMCM, she served as the team leader, anchoring the group’s technical strategy. Besides, she shouldered the core responsibilities of mathematical modeling and programming, effectively translating abstract theoretical frameworks into robust executable code.

Yunrong Gu

Eunice Gu is a third-year math student who enjoys using statistics and computation to understand real-world problems, especially in environmental and epidemiological settings. In the CUMCM team, she mainly focused on writing the paper and handling the LaTeX work. Eunice loves turning ideas into clear writing and finding simple ways to explain mathematical thinking. Outside of academics, she is passionate about photography, hiking, and Formula racing.

Yixuan Gao

Yixuan Gao is a member of the Class of 2027 at Duke Kunshan University, majoring in Applied Mathematics. Although mathematics was not initially her primary academic interest, her undergraduate studies revealed how mathematical frameworks can optimize critical thinking and decision-making in daily life.

Over the past year, Yixuan has engaged in diverse interdisciplinary research, ranging from analyzing the mathematical properties of oceanic chromophoric dissolved organic matter to modeling the control equations for wall-plastering robots. In the CUMCM, she collaborated with a talented team to secure a Provincial First Prize on her debut attempt.