Student Success in Mathematics Competition
Left to right: James Risk, Hannah Malsbury, Paul McMenemy, Jamie Thompson,
Lee Reich, Asif Arshad, Esther Brant, Rachel Macdonald, Rachael McKnight, Dr Kelly Cline
Three student teams from Stirling have won plaudits in the annual Mathematical Contest in Modelling (MCM), which attracted 2,775 teams from around the world.
Dr Kelly Cline, Lecturer in Computing Science and Mathematics, says: "Even though this is the first time that Stirling has taken part in the MCM, one of our teams was awarded an Honourable Mention, which was given to only 30% of those who entered, and two teams were ranked as Successful Participants, which was awarded to 55% of those taking part."
Nine students, working in teams of three, took part in the 96 hour competition which required them to write a formal paper proposing and analysing a mathematical model of an applied scenario. In doing so, they were permitted to consult only non-living sources. Esther Brant, Rachel Macdonald, and Rachael McKnight were awarded an Honourable Mention for designing a snowboard course to maximize the production of 'vertical air' by a skilled snowboarder. Paul McMenemy, Lee Reich, and James Risk in one team, and Asif Arshad, Hannah Malsbury and Jamie Thompson in another, were ranked as Successful Participants for their work on the analysis of VHF radio repeaters.
Kelly is understandably proud of the students' achievements: "These students volunteered for 96 hours of mathematics purely for the fun, the challenge and the learning experience. It speaks highly of their character and enthusiasm that they took up the challenge to use maths as a way of understanding the world around them."
