The Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) that took place from January 3-6, 2024 in San Francisco turned out to be a mathematical extravaganza for all attendees. As a proud partner of JMM, we at COMAP had a fantastic time.

Let's take a journey through our participation in the event, from lively workshops to thought-provoking panels and a special session that had everyone talking!

Booth 408: Where the Magic Happened

We set up camp at Booth 408, inviting attendees to dive into the world of mathematical wonders. From modeling contests and membership options to publications, our dedicated staff stood ready to answer all inquiries. The booth quickly became a hub of excitement and curiosity.

Special Session: Behind the Scenes of Math Modeling Contests

On Friday, January 5, early birds gathered at Room 105 in The Moscone Center for a Special Session hosted by Kayla Blyman from Saint Martin's University. Titled "Math Modeling Contests: What They Are, How They Benefit, What They Did," this session unveiled the stories behind the scenes. Attendees delved into the experiences of high school and undergraduate students, exploring how they discovered the contests, selected problems, and prepared for the ultimate mathematical showdown.

The session kicked off at 8:00 a.m. with an introduction by our CEO, Catherine Roberts. As the audience sipped their coffee, they were treated to a fascinating journey through the Consortium for Mathematics & Its Applications.

At 9:00 a.m., Steven Sofos DiSilvio (Columbia University), Anthony Ozerov (University of California, Berkeley), and Leon Zhou (Columbia University) brought a touch of whimsy with "Fungi, Trash, Bikes, and Wordle: Remembrance of Models Past."

Following this, at 10:00 a.m., Benjamin R S McLaughlin (Asbury University) shared insights on "Preparing Students and Building a Stronger Department Through the COMAP Competition in Mathematical Modeling."

The session wrapped up at 11:00 a.m. with Kayla Blyman and Keith Erickson presenting "100 Hours of MCM/ICM: The Abridged Version," leaving the audience inspired and ready for more.

Panels: Trends, Topics, and Tips

Later that day, Room 304 at The Moscone Center buzzed with excitement during the COMAP Panel on Math Modeling Contests. Organized by Kayla Blyman, Keith Erickson, and Catherine Roberts, the panel delved into the current trends in math modeling competitions. Attendees had the chance to learn about recent topics and innovative approaches students have taken, with an interactive Q&A session rounding out the event. 

Workshops: Judge Training and Modeling for Educators

The mathematical journey continued with two engaging workshops. First, the "Become a COMAP MCM©/ICM© Judge" workshop, organized by Kayla Blyman and Keith Erickson, offered participants insights into the judging process for COMAP's Mathematical Contest in Modeling and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling.

Next up, the "Modeling for Educators" workshop, organized by Ben Galluzzo and Adewale Adeolu, provided a hands-on experience for introducing mathematical modeling in the classroom. From building models in M2Studio to utilizing COMAP contest problems, educators left armed with a toolkit of resources to inspire their students.

MathSafe: Supporting a Safe and Welcoming Environment at Meetings

All COMAP staff who work conferences are now MathSafe trained volunteers. This is a program where members of our mathematics community volunteer to help ensure the conference experience is welcoming and safe for all attendees. Learn more at MathSafe.org!

As the curtains fell on JMM 2024, we hope our participation in the event left a mark on the amazing mathematical minds gathered in San Francisco. To learn more about us and what we do, browse our website at comap.org, consider signing up for a free membership, and explore our world-renowned math modeling contests.