Training Agenda 2004-05 (tentative)

NOTE: The following is the training regimen that Ephrat and Anand loosely followed last year. It is merely a framework for teams that general Berkeley MCM training will follow. Individual teams can work out their own schedules as desired. 

We are currently working to modify and update it.

Week One: 10/18

Introductory meetings.  Form preliminary teams.  Discuss schedule during weekend of competition.  Introduction to the modeling process – how real-world situations are represented as predictive models.

Week Two: 10/25

First meetings with advisors.  Modeling practice problems – where to find them and how to solve them.  Logistics and schedule during the MCM weekend.

Week Three: 11/1

Mathematical writing practice and communication.  Publishing results in LaTeX.  What makes a winning paper?  Teams construct a sample “outstanding” paper.

Week Four: 11/8

Case study of an already-solved UMAP problem.  Write up solution to a math modeling problem in LaTeX for further LaTeX practice.  Meetings with team advisors.

Week Five: 11/15

MCM Dry Run #1!  Work out a complete UMAP problem and compare to winning solutions.  Feedback from advisors.

Week Six: 11/22

Simulation-based models.  Team members practice solving a simulation-based modeling problem together in a uniform language.

Week Seven: 11/29

Literature search and mathematical research practice.  Literature-search an entirely unknown topic and construct a mathematical model.  Case study on one UMAP problem.

Week Eight: 12/6

MCM Dry Run #2!  Work out complete problem and compare to winning solutions.

Week Nine: 12/13

Case study on several UMAP problems.  Break for finals.

WINTER BREAK

Week Ten: 1/2

Work out complete UMAP pro blem.

Week Eleven: 1/29

Recuperate, meet with advisors again for pep talk.

Week Twelve: 2/5 COMPETE