About Workshop

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The ICMS Modelling Camp is a 5-day in-person training workshop where PhD students in the mathematical sciences tackle challenges presented by external partners or academic experts in knowledge exchange.

What is the format?

At the beginning of the camp, all challenges are presented. The PhD students are split into groups of six, with one group assigned to each challenge. Each group is supported throughout the camp by an academic facilitator who can offer guidance as they work towards solving their assigned challenge. All groups provide a short update at the end of each day, and deliver a final presentation on their progress at the end of the camp.

A winning group is chosen based on feedback from the academic facilitators, with a focus on collaboration and communication.

What to expect?

The purpose of the ICMS Modelling Camp is to provide PhD students with the opportunity to develop core skills in a welcoming, friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

By working closely with their peers in a dynamic environment, students can expect to gain experience in teamwork and improve their interpersonal skills. A huge part of successful knowledge exchange is effective communication, and students will have the opportunity to directly interact with challenge holders who may not necessarily have a background in mathematics.

As a researcher, particularly when working in collaboration with external partners on live challenges, it is important to be flexible. At the ICMS Modelling Camp, students have the chance to step outside of their comfort zone by working on a challenge that may not necessarily align with their own area of expertise. This provides a valuable opportunity to test their adaptability and learn first-hand how different branches of mathematics may be applied in various settings.

Participation in a modelling camp is excellent preparation for attending a study group, the most popular being the European Study Groups with Industry (ESGI). These have a similar format to the ICMS Modelling Camp but operate on a larger scale, typically attracting around 100 participants from all career stages. The ESGI format originated in Oxford in the 1960s and there are now several workshops held annually all across Europe, with the UK hosting one every year. This year’s annual UK ESGI (ESGI 195) will be hosted by the University of Exeter in July 2026.

 

Challenge Information

Photo-stitching workflow for seabird cliff surveys
Facilitator: Jessica Enright, University of Glasgow
Challenge holder: HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd

Dynamic transition modelling in tennis to replace IID assumptions for sports prediction
Facilitator: Abdul-Lateef Haji-Ali, Heriot-Watt University
Challenge holder: Sports & Wellbeing Analytics

To spot or predict adverse pressure for A&E services and how to predict this pressure
Facilitator: Lisa McFetridge, Queen’s University Belfast
Challenge holder: Public Health Scotland

Quantifying shape variation in 3D human body data
Facilitator: Alberto Paganini, University of Leicester
Challenge holder: Body Aspect