- Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate TN USA
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE USA
- Brno University of Technology, Brno CZECH REPUBLIC;
- Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne FL USA
- Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University, Saint Petersburg RUSSIA;
- Central Academy, Des Moine IA USA
- Texas A&M University, Commerce TX USA
- Masaryk University, Brno CZECH REPUBLIC;
- Penn State Berks, Reading PA USA
- MassBay Community College, Wellesley MA USA
- University of Florida, Gainesville FL USA
SCUDEM X 2025 Challenge Period:
18 October 2025 - 11 November 2025
Outstanding Awards Team Videos are at the SIMIODE YouTube site
Problems from SCUDEM IX 2024
SCUDEM VIII 2023 and SCUDEM IX 2024 were supported by MathWorks.
Student teams were provided a copy of MATLAB®
General Information about SCUDEM
SCUDEM — SIMIODE Challenge Using Differential Equations Modeling is a 3-student group modeling challenge that runs over multiple days culminating in a strict limit 10 minute video which is reviewed by at least 3 judges.
Teams choose one of the Challenge Problems provided in the areas of
- physics/engineering,
- chemistry/life sciences,
- social sciences,
and develop a model using differential or difference equations and a presentation.
Teams and Coaches may meet remotely or in person. Student challengers must work with their team without other animate assistance, including from their coach, during the challenge period. Team submissions will be judged Outstanding, Meritorious, or Successful.
Read the Complete Rules for details of the challenge.
See problem statements and results for past events in our wiki. SIMIODE's YouTube channel features presentations of past Outstanding Award recipients.
As a Judge, you have the opportunity to help students develop their mathematical modeling skills. If you'd like to support our teams' intellectual growth, as well as help them to network, then please volunteer as a Judge for SCUDEM X 2025
Consider volunteering as a Coach for SCUDEM X 2025. Plan to start working with your team before SCUDEM begins in order to help prepare these energetic students for the modeling experience.
MathWorks software information
We are pleased to offer all SCUDEM X 2025 participants (team members and coaches) a complimentary MATLAB & Simulink license. For registered SCUDEM X 2025 participants you can visit this webpage and press "Request Software" to acquire your license. MathWorks customer services will send you a license key within 48 hours. You can then use this key to install MATLAB following the instructions from video.
You can experience and learn about MATLAB immediately after registration here at these helpful sites.
- MATLAB Onramp
- Essentials of Math Modeling — Basic Programming in MATLAB
- Essentials of Math Modeling — Difference and Differential Equations
SCUDEM is administered by SIMIODE, a non-profit Community of Practice focused on a modeling first approach to teaching differential equations. SIMIODE is a US 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations to support SIMIODE's mission are always appreciated.
SCUDEM IN THE NEWS
Judges needed for SCUDEM X 2025
SCUDEM entries are scored by volunteer judges; past participants have consistently commented upon how rewarding the experience has been. Find more information and join us here!
Team Registration is now open for SCUDEM X 2025!
Registration for teams wishing to participate in the SCUDEM X 2025 Challenge is open! Find more information and register here!
MAA Math Horizons Article by Student Team
A wonderful article, SCUDEM Competition, published in the Mathematical Association of America’s journal Math Horizons by Aidan Bryant and Aryan Tiwari of the University of Florida, discusses in great detail a team effort leading to an Outstanding Award in SCUDEM VIII 2023. This piece was beautifully written in a personal tone by students. See the team video presentation in SIMIODE’s YouTube Channel. Math Horizons is one of many great journals available for membership in MAA. © Mathematical Association of America, 2025. All rights reserved.
SCUDEM Testimonials
Stuyvesant High School
Stuvesant High School, a science and mathematics school in Manhattan, New York City, shares news of its participating teams in SCUDEM IX 2024 in a very engaging and informative article written by student journalists in the school newspaper, The Spectator.
Achieving Team Success
What do these schools have in common? Click on their name to find out.
University of Delhi
An example of scope and breadth of participation. Congratulations to Arya Yadav, Utkarsh Singh, and Kamaldeep Bhatt (holding their team certificates) for this amazing team effort and Meritorious Award and a heartfelt thanks for the opportunity at SCUDEM VIII 2023 under Coach Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Rajni Arora, Shyam Lal College of the University of Delhi, New Delhi INDIA.
The Collegial Conversation webinar
Watch the Collegial Conversation webinar from 27 September 2021, conducted by Brian Winkel (Director SIMIODE) and Anthony Stefan (Florida Institute of Technology) for practical advice for Coaches and Student Challengers. The slides of the presentation include helpful links to details and guiding materials.
SCUDEM Team Papers Published
The Outstanding SCUDEM V 2020 Team from Florida Institute of Technology
The Outstanding SCUDEM V 2020 Team (Miles Pophal, Chenming Zhen, Henry Bae) from Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne FL USA has published their model as a paper, Using Differential Equations to Model a Cockatoo on a Spinning Wheel as part of the SCUDEM V Modeling Challenge, in the Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal, Volume 23, Number 1. The team was coached by Anthony Stefan while a graduate student at Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne FL USA.
The Outstanding SCUDEM Team IV 2019 Team from Florida Institute of Technology
The Outstanding SCUDEM IV 2019 Team (Z. Fralish, N. Hallmark, J. Marshall) from Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne FL USA has published their model as a paper, Using Differential Equations to Model Phoretic Parasitism as Part of SCUDEM Challenge, in the International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, Volume 16, Issue 1. The team was coached by Jay Elsinger, faculty member at Florida Southern University, Lakeland FL USA.
The Outstanding SCUDEM III 2018 Team from Florida Southern University
The Outstanding SCUDEM III 2018 Team (Z. Fralish, A. Stefan, B. Tyson) from Florida Southern University, Lakeland FL USA has published their model as a paper, Using Differential Equations to Model Predator-Prey Relations as Part of SCUDEM Modeling Challenge, in the Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal, Volume 20, Issue 2. The team was coached by Jay Elsinger, faculty member at Florida Southern University, Lakeland FL USA.
SCUDEM Competition
A wonderful article, SCUDEM Competition, published in the Mathematical Association of America’s journal Math Horizons by Aidan Bryant and Aryan Tiwari of the University of Florida, discusses in great detail a team effort leading to an Outstanding Award in SCUDEM VIII 2023. This piece was beautifully written in a personal tone by students. Math Horizons is one of many great journals available for membership in MAA. © Mathematical Association of America, 2025. All rights reserved.
If your team or coach has published a paper about your work on SCUDEM we would like to hear about it and add it to this list.