Mathematical Contest in Modeling and the Teaching of Mathematical Modeling

annual team competition for undergraduates in China. The aim of the contest is to give students an opportunity for practicing the whole mathematical modeling process and to improve students' understanding of mathematics, especially mathematical modeling and mathematical experiments, and to enhance students ' motivation for studying mathematics and to cultivate students ' creativity and overall ability. In order to benefit more students and teachers a two-year project on penetrating ideas and methods of mathematical modeling through into the main mathematical courses initiated by the National Organizing Committee of the CUMCM in 2004 will be briefly presented. The Project’s emphases are put on designing mathematical modeling modulus, which include whole mathematical modeling process from real world problems and can be effectively penetrated through into the existing courses teaching. A sample module “why a Coca Cola can takes such a shape? ” is given. 1. China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling 1.1 Aims, Scope and History. CUMCM is a national annual contest in China for undergraduates. The aim of the contest is to give students an opportunity for practicing the whole mathematical modeling process and to improve students ' understanding of mathematics, especially mathematica