VALDOSTA — A three-student team from Valdosta State University was recently challenged to use the power and elegance of mathematics to investigate a real-world problem involving heavy metals in dark chocolate and cocoa products.     

Jasmine Freeman, Timothy Smith and Xavier Wellons joined 439 other students from around the world for SCUDEM (SIMIODE Challenge Using Differential Equations Modeling) IX. 

The global mathematical modeling competition began with each team selecting a challenge problem from physics/engineering, chemistry/life sciences, or social sciences. The students then had 25 days to develop a model using differential or difference equations followed by a 10-minute presentation to share their results with a panel of faculty and industry judges.  

When the challenge period ended, Freeman, Smith and Wellons learned their efforts had earned them the SCUDEM IX Meritorious Award.

“This mathematics challenge reinforced my problem-solving abilities and resilience when tackling complex mathematical models,” said Freeman of Union City. She will graduate in May with a bachelor of science degree in astronomy, a bachelor of science in physics, and a minor in mathematics. Her ultimate career goal is to become an astrophysicist at NASA, contribute to the discovery of potentially habitable exoplanets and advance the understanding of biosignatures and technosignatures in the universe. “The experience has strengthened my foundation in applied mathematics and prepared me for the next chapter of my journey — whether it’s in astrophysics research or contributing to groundbreaking discoveries in space exploration. It has shown me that persistence and creativity are key to pushing the boundaries of knowledge.”

SCUDEM IX was sponsored by Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations (SIMIODE), a nonprofit open community of teachers who believe that helping students discover how differential equations arise — and how to build their own equations — will motivate students to learn techniques for solving textbook problems while also providing them with a real-world understanding of the power of differential equations.

 “Events like SCUDEM IX encourage students to go beyond textbook problems and engage with open-ended, real-world scenarios,” said Denise Reid, Ph.D., a professor of mathematics in VSU’s Department of Applied Mathematics and Physics. “Students make connections between different fields such as physics, biology, and economics. Working in teams, students learn to collaborate with others and improve their communication skills. Events such as this help build student confidence and creativity and provide valuable hand-on experiences.”

Freeman, Smith and Wellons were coached by Reid and Shafat Mubin, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics.

Smith of Doerun plans to graduate with a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics in December, followed by a minor in applied statistics. He hopes to pursue a career in research and data analysis, with a focus on climate cycles and geological behavior and how they impact astronomical cycles. He has been conducting research in this area for at least four years.

Wellons of Grovetown graduates in May with a bachelor of science degree in astronomy, a bachelor of science in physics, and a minor in mathematics. He currently works as a systems engineer for a contracting company, but he hopes to return to school in the future and pursue an advanced degree, possibly in aeronautics. He enjoys research and development and dreams of working with a national security-related think tank at some point in his career.