Who Are We?
Rice INFORMS is the Rice University Student Chapter of INFORMS (The Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences).
We are a student organization at Rice that serves Operations Research students with professional and academic resources, such as academic guidance, networking events, and optimization challenges.
Rice Students: Join Us
What is INFORMS?
INFORMS is the leading organization for professionals in operations research, management science, and analytics.
INFORMS is dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and technology of decision-making to: save lives, save money, and solve problems through highly-cited publications, conferences, competitions, networking communities, and professional development services.
What is Operations Research?
Operations research (OR) is a multidisciplinary field that applies advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions. By using techniques from mathematics, statistics, computer science, and economics, OR aims to provide a rational basis for decision-making by seeking to understand and structure complex situations and to predict system behavior. It involves the development and application of models and algorithms to solve problems in various domains such as logistics, supply chain management, finance, healthcare, and transportation. The goal is to optimize performance, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
The central idea is often to maximize or minimize some function f(x) subject to a set of constraints.
At the core of operations research are methods such as linear programming, queuing theory, simulation, and network analysis. These techniques allow OR professionals to analyze data, model systems, and evaluate potential solutions to determine the most effective course of action. For example, OR can be used to optimize scheduling in manufacturing processes, design efficient delivery routes for logistics companies, or manage inventory levels in retail. By providing a systematic and quantitative approach to problem-solving, operations research helps organizations make informed, data-driven decisions and achieve operational excellence.