Lake Erie College Students Compete in International| Mathematical Modeling Contest

Three students from Lake Erie College tackled the critical issue of cybersecurity as they competed against students from around the world in an international mathematics contest. The Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications (COMAP) contest challenges students to apply mathematical concepts to solve complex, real-world problems, where Lake Erie’s team was tasked with grappling with the resilience of the networks and devices that handle our data.

Jacob Carn (Class of 2027, Chemistry Major), Trevor Durst (Class of 2026, Math Major), and Lucas Spencer (Class of 2027, Psychology Major) had just 99 hours to research, build, test, and evaluate a model, looking for patterns in cybersecurity incidents, reports and prosecutions, and then exploring how data-driven approaches can help shape future policy at the global level.

“We are building towards the Mathematics Modeling Contest becoming a core component of our applied mathematics major since it exemplifies the kinds of problems they could be tackling after graduation,” said Dr. Emily Hoopes-Boyd, LEC Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics. “It is such a great opportunity for students to practice their modeling skills, and they can later present their work at upcoming local and state math conferences.”

The COMAP contest, known for bringing together students from around the globe, is a rigorous competition that highlights the power of mathematical modeling in addressing some of today’s most pressing issues. It serves as a unique platform for young minds to engage in problem-solving that can have real-world applications in fields like cybersecurity, engineering, economics, and more.

Please join us in congratulating Jacob Carn, Trevor Durst, and Lucas Spencer for taking on this daunting challenge!

About COMAP: The Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP) is a leading organization that promotes the use of mathematics to solve real-world problems. COMAP’s Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) is one of the most respected global competitions for students interested in mathematical problem-solving.