Rising high school juniors and seniors gain applied math skills during summer program

How does calculating the number of peanut M&Ms in a glass jar translate to solving real-world problems? For the last three summers, Delaware high school students have discovered the answer at the University of Delaware’s math modeling camp. The deceptively complex challenge reflected real-world scenarios frequently encountered in industries—from shipping and urban planning to environmental engineering and public health.

Forty students from more than a dozen Delaware high schools attended the free five-day camp. Funded by the Unidel Foundation, the program was held at two locations—UD’s main campus and a site in Wilmington—and awarded participants a $600 stipend upon completion.

Working on both individual and collaborative projects, students applied mathematical theories and computational techniques to solve practical challenges in science, industry and technology. Camp leaders Dominique Guillot and Diego Penta—professors in the Department of Mathematical Sciences—guided participants alongside UD graduate students and guest faculty lecturers.

Throughout the week, students engaged in hands-on modeling activities that included:

• Dynamic systems: Performing non-linear modeling to track smartphone battery charging rates over time.

• Network science: Using graph theory to map and analyze complex interaction networks.

• Uncertainty analysis: Applying probability theory to predict real-world scenarios.

The week culminated in the popular M&M challenge. After formulating hypotheses and gathering physical measurements of the jar and sample candies, teams applied advanced sphere packing models to account for the empty space between the non-spherical shapes. The winning team’s estimate fell within just a few M&Ms of the actual total.

By combining hands-on problem-solving with team collaboration, the camp equipped students with a deeper understanding of how applied mathematics shapes modern industry. To learn more about outreach initiatives, visit the math department’s website.