Maryland Students Ready for Battle of the Brains Competition in China

Harbin Engineering University (China) Hosts ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest this February.

WHAT:

A three-student undergraduate team from Maryland's College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CMPS) has once again earned a spot to compete in the World Finals of the IBM-sponsored Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC).

Coached by Prof. Amol Deshpande (Computer Science and UMIACS), Maryland Computer Science and Mathematics majors Alan Jackoway, Mitchell Katz and Matt McCutchen won the ACM Mid-Atlantic Programming Contest in early November, which qualified them for the 2010 ACM-ICPC World Finals.

Only 21 U.S. universities earned the chance to compete in the competition - better known as the "Battle of the Brains." Upwards of 7,100 teams, representing more than 1,830 universities from around the globe, participated in the regional competitions last fall. The top 103 teams - including the University of Maryland - have qualified to compete in Harbin, China.

WHEN:

February 1-5, 2010

WHERE:

Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China

BACKGROUND:

The 34th annual ACM ICPC challenges three-person teams to use their programming prowess and mental endurance to solve complex, real-world problems in just five hours. As participants, these students from Maryland and other schools are already world leaders in carrying on IBM's Smarter Planet initiative. One hundred three teams, comprising the finest problem solvers from all corners of the world, will compete for the "world's smartest trophy."

Download an example (PDF) from last year of the kinds of questions being asked during the "Battle of the Brains" competition.

The team solving the most problems correctly in the least time will emerge as the international champion, earning scholarships and IBM awards. Since IBM began sponsoring the Contest in 1997, participation has grown by more than 800 percent.

Last year, the University of Maryland took 20th place in the competition - tied with Stanford. It was the best showing by any public university in the United States.

 

Read more about previous contests, problem sets and 2009 standings. There will also be podcast and blog postings as well as tweets on Twitter. Download a fact sheet (PDF) about the The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest.

MEDIA:

Media wishing to talk with the Maryland team can contact Dave Ottalini in University Communications.

CONTACT:

Media covering the event in China should contact:

Meredith Setzman
IBM and the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest
215-790-4398
msetzman@tierneyagency.com

2009 Competition Releases:

Battle of the Brains Brings Maryland Top
Public School Honor in United States
Maryland Students Head to Stockholm
for Prestigious "Battle of the Brains"

Where is the University of Maryland?

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