The University of Toronto Operations Research Group (UTORG) in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (MIE) has been recognized as a student chapter by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).
Operations Research, or simply OR, is an interdisciplinary science that uses scientific methods like mathematical modelling, statistics and algorithms to make decisions related to the coordination and effectiveness of any organization. Applications of OR can be found in business, health care, financial engineering, military, supply-chain management, manufacturing, public policy and more.
INFORMS is the largest professional society in the world for professionals in the field of operations research, management science, and analytics.
Founded in 2010, UTORG is a graduate student-run organization, serving the operations research community at U of T. The group hosts biweekly talks on current OR-related research in MIE, invites up to four distinguished speakers annually, and holds numerous technical workshops and social events.
UTORG’s listserv reaches over 250 subscribers, and their events attract additional OR researchers from the Department of Computer Science, Department of Mathematics, Rotman School of Management, and other engineering disciplines. The group also reaches a worldwide audience through OR Café, an OR themed blog run by UTORG members.
UTORG is the only active INFORMS student chapter in Canada. UTORG is also a student chapter of the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS).
“UTORG is pleased to become a student chapter of INFORMS,” said Derya Demirtaş, Industrial Engineering PhD candidate, and president of UTORG/INFORMS/CORS student chapter. “To be recognized at the international level is an exceptional achievement for UTORG, and attests to the vibrant OR community we have here at the University of Toronto.”
“I am delighted UTORG has been recognized by INFORMS as a student chapter,” said Professor Timothy Chan (MIE), the group’s faculty advisor. “UTORG’s success is the result of tremendous effort put in by many graduate students over the years, and I congratulate them on this notable recognition.”
Members of UTORG will attend the October 8 student chapter session during INFORMS Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN.
