On December 4, high school students, university students, doctoral candidates, senior researchers, and company representatives gathered at Karlstad University to work together in teams on current mathematical challenges presented by businesses during the The Mathematics Meets Industry Day (MiMM Day).
Rottneros, Tesa, Blue Ocean Closures, and Region Värmland presented real-world problems, seeking sustainable solutions with the participants' help. Event organizers Elisabet Mellroth and Adrian Muntean from the Department of Mathematics at Karlstad University expressed their satisfaction with the day, which this year attracted more companies and participants than ever before:
“The aim is to show the industry the advantages of collaborating with mathematicians while inspiring high school students to discover the fun and versatility of applied mathematics,” said Elisabet Mellroth, Senior lecturer in mathematics education.
“This is a unique opportunity for young math enthusiasts to work alongside experienced experts and tackle real-world problems,” added Adrian Muntean, professor of mathematics and event organizer.
One complex problem got solved
The MiMM Day focuses on collaboration, creativity, and mathematics. Teams with diverse skill sets were formed on-site by Adrian Muntean and each group was given a problem and had eight hours to work on it. However, these were no simple tasks.
“We brought a very complex problem from Rottneros, and it’s fascinating to see how participants approach and tackle it rather than expecting them to actually solve it. This challenges our own ways of thinking and allows us to see the problem from a new perspective by listening to the participants,” said Mostafa Ismail from Rottneros.
One of the problems presented got solved by the group, something which impressed the company:
”The MIMM day exceeded all our expectations! It was the first time we at Blue Ocean Closures participated, so we didn’t know much about what to expect. But we immediately realized that the event, planning, execution, and participants were all of a high standard! Adrian and Elisabet had carefully composed well-matched groups of researchers, PhD candidates, and students for each problem group, and we were impressed by how our group members approached our problem in various ways. The results produced were of high quality! Achieving a similar result in the private market would have cost us a lot of money. We would be happy to come back next year”, says Andreas Jarl from Blue Ocean Closures.
Nils Hendrik Kröger from Tesa highlighted the importance of collaboration and communication in problem-solving:
“Mathematics is a descriptive language that can be applied to almost any science, and today’s participants get a chance to experience that. When I studied mathematics at university, it was very theoretical. What we’re doing here is incredibly valuable because in the professional world, solving complex problems often requires teamwork.”
“It’s interesting to work with abstract models and in such diverse teams. For example, we have a professor in our group, and you gain so many different insights, even though the problem is challenging,” said Fredrik Andrén, an engineering student.
Presenting Results
At the end of the MiMM Day, the teams presented their findings during a plenary session where companies evaluated their work and provided feedback.
“It was an exciting day for all participants who came from various parts of Sweden and abroad and it’s fantastic that we have so many high school students participating. They all have a strong interest in mathematics and excel in the subject,” said Elisabet Mellroth.
“This event is a great way for them to meet others and communicate their ideas because the best solutions often come from teamwork. They also get a glimpse of future career opportunities,” concluded Adrian Muntean.
