Our flexible World Solutions Challenge does not require any prior Future Problem Solving experience or affiliation. Students new to Future Problem Solving get a 4-week window to analyze a specific current real world issue and use our 6-step problem-solving process to develop an action plan. All activities are asynchronous so these bite-sized challenges may be completed at any point during the challenge time frame.
How the competition works
The Future Problem Solving model is easy to apply for any situation. Students learn to thoroughly research and analyze real world issues then apply a 6-step creative problem-solving process to develop relevant action plans.
Our challenge toolkit guides students through the problem-solving process and their action plan submission. Teams submit both a written action plan and one supplemental item to demonstrate their action plan. Students may choose to submit a promotional video or podcast under three minutes long, or up to four pages of diagrams or graphics.
The event materials include a challenge outline, suggested timeline, a topic introduction, and helpful learning resources and videos. The team registration fee covers all student needs for access to the online 6-step problem-solving process as well as evaluation and feedback on their action plan submission.
We provide all materials and evaluations in English and student work must be submitted in English as well.
Who?
Teams of 2 to 4 students in grades 5 to 8 compete in two divisions.
- Juniors – Grades 5 to 6 (or U.S. grade equivalents for ages 10-12)
- Middle – Grades 7 to 8 (or U.S. grade equivalents for ages 12-14)
This challenge is an introductory experience to our signature Global Issues program for students who have not competed in Global Issues before. Students from all around the world compete together virtually by division in groups of 2 to 4 students. All teams compete together, no matter the number of students working on an action plan submission. Note, students registered in the World Solutions Challenge or Global Issues for previous Future Problem Solving competition seasons are ineligible for this event.
What?
Invasive Species is the 2026 challenge topic.
The competition is based on a core problem related to a real world issue. This year’s World Solutions Challenge invites students to tackle one of the world’s growing environmental concerns: Invasive Species. How will we safeguard the biodiversity of our ecosystems against the rising threat of invasive species in the future? Program topic materials specific to the World Solutions Challenge are provided as part of the registration fee.
When?
The 4-week competition window is late September to mid-October.
All activities are accessible via FPSOnline, our interactive, collaboration platform, during the open 4-week competition period. Students may meet when and where they like, even virtually, as long as they can access the internet via at least one computer. Some teams complete everything “at once” in a single (long) session, while other teams prefer to meet for two or more sessions during the window to tackle the problem a little at a time.
How?
Entry fee is $100 per team.
Every team needs an adult to serve as their primary contact for registration and communications with Future Problem Solving. Adults are also welcome to serve as coaches, but this is not required. The challenge includes all instructional materials for student success.
Why?
Competition awards include the top 3 winning teams plus honorable mentions in each division.
Our World Solutions Challenge makes learning problem solving fun. It’s a chance for students to learn how to change the world, one problem at a time. This challenge is a great way to experience elements of our signature Global Issues program.
2026 World Solutions Challenge Prizes
Top 3: The top 3 winning teams in both divisions each receive individual medals, 1 free team entry to compete in our Global Issues flagship competition in the current/upcoming season with the Future Problem Solving affiliate supporting their location, plus 1 free set of competition season topic materials (8 research and activity topic units). The first place winners action plans may also be showcased on our website.
Honorable Mention: Additional teams receiving honorable mention in each division earn individual electronic certificates with the distinction noted and a coupon for 1 free set of competition season topic materials (8 research and activity topic units).
All teams successfully completing the World Solutions Challenge receive individual electronic certificates as well.
Winners are announced via a social media video in November, an article on our website, and posts on our social media channels (@futureproblemsolving).
Attachments – 2026 Program Flyers
