Engaging Students in Applied Mathematics Education and Research for Global Problem Solving

In this chapter, we present a novel way to engage students in applied mathematics education and research by combining context provided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that helps to drive content demonstrated via a new mathematical modeling cycle for global problem solving. To illustrate the approach, we select a specific goal in this chapter, namely, health and well-being (SDG-Goal 3) and apply the eight different phases of the mathematical modeling cycle that consists of Observe, Theorize, Formulate, Describe, Analyse, Simulate, Validate and Predict to solve the global problem of controlling the spread of the Zika virus. Along with these phases, we also present the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a context to motivate the mathematical modeling cycle as a powerful mechanism to both engage students in a global problem-solving process and also excite them to pursue applied mathematics education and research.