CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: WISM101
WISM101
Mathematics for Industry
Course info
Course codeWISM101
EC3.75
Content
* Course organisation

The course consists of 6 meetings, simulating the well-known Mathematics with Industry
Study Week format.

On the first meeting of the course, real-world industrial problems of a 
mathematical nature will be presented by representatives with various industrial
backgrounds, such as software companies, banks, online shops, governmental 
research institutes. The participating students will organise themselves
in groups of 8-10 students according to the problem of their interest
and will query the problem presenter in detail about all aspects of the problem,
trying to formulate it in a precise mathematical way.

In the next 4 meetings, each group will work on its problem and try to solve it,
where necessary contacting the problem owner for further input. 

In the final meeting, the solution found by the group is presented in an
oral presentation, in the presence of the industrial representatives,
and a concise (10-20 page) report is handed in with a description of the 
solution intended for the problem owner, including a 1-page management summary.

* Course coordinators
Prof. dr. Rob Bisseling (Mathematical Institute, Utrecht University,
Scientific Computing) and Dr. Fieke Dekkers (National Institute for
Public Health and the Environment, RIVM, and Mathematical Institute, Utrecht University).

*** Content ***

* Learning goals 
After the completion of the course, the student is able to:
- translate a possibly ill-posed industrial problem into a mathematical problem 
that captures the essence of the original problem
- solve this problem within a given limited amount of time, possibly 
in approximated form or with additional assumptions on the input
- work together in a team with diverse backgrounds, towards a common goal 
- present the solution orally in a form understandable to the original problem poser
- present the solution in a written report, which is concise but still contains
the most important insights.

* Contents
The aim of the course is to provide students with industrial experience
and actual problem solving skills in an actual industrial context,
as a preparation for a future career where mathematicians contribute
their part in interdisciplinary teams working on real-life problems.

*** Entry requirements ***
Mathematical maturity in a diversity of subfields of mathematics, at the level 
of having finished a bachelor degree in mathematics or equivalent. 

*** Required materials ***
Bring your own laptop, for internet access, data analysis, 
and possibly for running/developing software.

*** Instructional formats ***
Presentations (by problem posers and students), attendance required.
Full-day working sessions for solving problems, writing the final report, and preparing
the final presentation.

* Language: English

* Examination
Final written team report 50%, final team presentation (by at most 3 team members) 20%,
active individual participation 30% (judged on the basis of attendance, activity,
and an individual log of work done).

*Evaluation matrix:
  report 50 % presentation 20% personal log 30%
is able to translate a possibly ill-posed industrial problem into a mathematical problem 
that captures the essence of the original problem
x    
is able to solve this problem within a given limited amount of time, possibly 
in approximated form or with additional assumptions on the input
x    
is able to recognize and describe his/her personal contribution to group work     x
is able to present the solution orally/in slides in a form understandable to the original problem poser   x  
is able to present the solution in a written report, which is concise but still contains the most important insights x    
CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal