Operations researchers are little known but indispensable experts who use math and science to improve decision-making, management, and operations in a host of fields.
The following presentations may interest reporters —
Fighting Terrorism in the Skies
Monday, November 5, 8:15-9:45 AM, Fontainebleau, Fleur De Lis Ballroom
- The Worst Day Ever. Arnold Barnett, Sloan School of Management, MIT. The FAA consultant who NBC News has called the nation's leading expert on aviation safety examines the tragedy of September 11 and whether it’s safe to return to the skies.
- Selecting an Aviation Security Baggage Screening Device Strategy.
John Kobza, Texas Tech University; Thomas J. Candalino, Texas Tech University; Sheldon H. Jacobson, Julie E. Virta, University of Illinois. The authors examine the tradeoffs between screening high risk baggage and all baggage as the cost of airport security grows.
Forecasting the U.S. Presidential Election
- A New Approach to Estimating the Probability of Winning in the Electoral College, Tuesday, November 5, 4-5:30 PM. Edward H. Kaplan, Yale School of Management, Arnold I. Barnett, Sloan School of Management, MIT. As the 2000 election showed so vividly, Electoral College standings rather than national popular votes determine who becomes the President. But current pre-election polls focus almost exclusively on the popular vote. Two leading researchers present a method for pollsters that can achieve point estimates and margins of error for a presidential candidate’s electoral-vote total. Tuesday, November 6, 4-5:30 PM, Fontainebleau, Ballroom B
- What the Futures Market Teaches About Election Forecasting, Monday, November 5, 8:15-9:30 AM. Forrest Nelson, Joyce Berg, Thomas A. Rietz, University of Iowa. During the presidential primaries, all eyes turn to Iowa, a state where a group of researchers recently developed a new approach to election forecasting based on the financial futures markets. The authors examine how these predictions would have proven in four presidential elections. Monday, November 5, 8:15 – 9:30 AM, Fontainebleau Imperial I
Getting the Best Price in an eBay Auction
- What Factors Drive Final Price in Internet Auctions? Charles A. Wood, University of Notre Dame; Robert J. Kauffman; University of Minnesota. Learn five clues to what you’ll pay in an online auction. Tuesday, November 6, 8:15- 9:45 AM, Fontainebleau, Imperial IV
Kids and Vaccines
- Using Monte Carlo Simulation to Determine Combination Vaccines for Childhood Diseases Sheldon H. Jacobson, University of Illinois; Edward C. Sewell, Southern Illinois University. Mathematical models that work in the casino can tell health professionals a surprising amount about immunizing children against disease. Tuesday, November 6, 8:15- 9:45 AM, Fontainebleau, Conference Room C
The INFORMS convention includes sessions on topics applied to numerous fields, including air safety, the military, e-commerce, information technology, energy, transportation, marketing, telecommunications, and health care. More than 1,800 papers are scheduled to be delivered.
The General Chair of the convention is Dr. Gary J. Koehler, Warrington School of Business, University of Florida Gainsville. Additional information about the conference is at http://www2.informs.org/Conf/Miami2001 and http://www2.informs.org/Press.
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS®) is an international scientific society with 10,000 members, including Nobel Prize laureates, dedicated to applying scientific methods to help improve decision-making, management, and operations. Members of INFORMS work in business, government, and academia. They are represented in fields as diverse as airlines, health care, law enforcement, the military, the stock market, and telecommunications. The INFORMS website is at http://www.informs.org.