SPS Past Prize Winners

Celebrating excellence in Stochastic Programming—discover the past prize events that recognized outstanding contributions and achievements in the field.

2023: DUPAČOVÁ-PRÉKOPA STUDENT PAPER PRIZE AWARDS

First Prize: Niels van der Laan (University of Groningen)

A Converging Benders’ Decomposition Algorithm for Two-Stage Mixed-Integer Recourse Models (with Ward Romeijnders)

Advisors.

Citation: The paper describes a new solution methodology for the two-stage mixed-integer recourse problem with general mixed-integer variables in both stages. While recognized as a fundamental problem in stochastic programming since the early days of the field, the problem has eluded the development of satisfactory solution methodologies. The paper constructs a Benders’ decomposition algorithm using a new family of optimality cuts that, in turn, rely on parametrically solving extended formulations of the second-stage problems. The authors establish theoretical convergence and demonstrate computational efficiency on investment planning and capacity expansion problems. The paper appears in Operations Research. The committee judges the paper a seminal contribution to the field of stochastic programming and anticipates several efficient solvers being constructed based on its ideas.

Runner-up (in alphabetical order):

• Kayla Cummings, MIT: Activated Benders Decomposition for Day-ahead Paratransit Itinerary Planning (with Alexandre Jacquillat, Vikrant Vaze)
• Fengpei Li, Columbia University: General Feasibility Bounds for Sample Average Approximation via Vapnik–Chervonenkis Dimension (with Henry Lam)
• Hanyang Li, University of Minnesota: A Decomposition Method for Two-Stage Stochastic Programs with Nonconvex Recourse (with Ying Cui)

Prize Committee: Johannes O. Royset (Naval Postgraduate School, chair), Werner Römisch (Humboldt-Universität Berlin), Claudia Sagastizábal (University of Campinas).