Future Problem Solving (FPS)

Future Problem Solving (FPS) is an international educational program that challenges students to think critically, think creatively, research real-world issues, imagine possible futures, and develop solutions.

Founded in 1974 by creativity pioneer Dr. E. Paul Torrance, Future Problem Solving has spent more than 50 years helping young people become confident problem-solvers and changemakers. Today, more than 30,000 K–12 students participate each year, with students participating across 34+ U.S. states and 14+ countries.

The philosophy is straightforward: students learn how to think, not what to think.

What Is Future Problem Solving?

Future Problem Solving takes students beyond memorization and asks them to apply what they know.

Students research and analyses real-world issues, identify challenges, generate possible solutions, evaluate those solutions, and develop an action plan. The process is built around FPS’s proven six-step problem-solving method and incorporates both divergent and convergent thinking.

The program’s topics draw from important challenges in:

• Business and economics
• Civics and society
• Science
• Technology

Students encounter these issues through hypothetical future scenarios as well as real community problems.

Why Future Problem Solving?

The world students will enter is changing quickly. FPS focuses on developing skills that can be applied across subjects, classrooms, competitions, and real-life situations.

Its approach emphasizes the 5Cs of Learning:

FPS describes these as core values connected to 21st-century learning.

The Six-Step Problem-Solving Method

At the heart of Future Problem Solving is a structured six-step process.

The process is deliberately flexible. FPS explains that students can apply the model to imagined future scenarios or real-world issues of their own choosing.

What Makes FPS Different?

Real-World Issues

FPS topics are built around significant challenges rather than isolated academic exercises. Students explore issues spanning business, civics, society, science, and technology.

Future Thinking

Students are not simply asked what is happening today. They are challenged to consider what could happen next.

Future Scenes are imagined “what if” scenarios based on current topic information. FPS develops these scenarios using research, future projections, expert review, and subject-matter expertise.

Authentic Assessment

There is not necessarily one “right” answer.

FPS uses rubric-based assessment and trained evaluators to provide learner-focused feedback on students’ work. Evaluations consider the different stages of the problem-solving process and are designed to help students strengthen their skills.

Competition and Collaboration

FPS offers educational experiences for both individual students and teams up to four students, with competitions taking place at local, regional, affiliate, and international levels.

Who Can Participate?

Future Problem Solving serves K–12 students.

The competition programs use three divisions:

• Junior: Grades 4–6
• Middle: Grades 7–9
• Senior: Grades 10–12

FPS Programs

Future Problem Solving currently offers two main competition programs, classroom learning resources and Challenges in Pakistan:

1. Global Issues

Global Issues is designed for students who enjoy research, current issues, future thinking, and problem solving.

Students research real-world topics and then apply the six-step process to an imagined future situation. Students can compete individually or in teams of up to four.

Each school year, students work through practice and qualifying problems, with successful participants progressing through regional affiliate competition toward the International Conference.

For the 2026–2027 Northern Hemisphere season, the topics listed by FPS are:

• Digital Dark Age
• Disappearing Cultures
• Influencer Marketing
• Health Security

2. Creative Writing

Creative Writing gives students an opportunity to combine research, future thinking, and storytelling.

Students choose one of the annual competition topics and write an original short story imagining a logical outcome of actions or events at least 20 years in the future.

The competition has three divisions:

• Junior: Grades 4–6
• Middle: Grades 7–9
• Senior: Grades 10–12

It is an individual event, and students write a story of 1,500 words or fewer.

Students are expected to research the selected real-world topic and use that research to inform their futuristic narrative. Their work receives rubric-based feedback from trained evaluators.

At the International Conference, qualifying students receive a new topic-related Future Scene and write a shorter story under a specified time limit.

How Does Competition Work?

For Global Issues, students begin by researching the annual topics and completing practice and qualifying problems. Those who qualify through their regional affiliate can progress to the affiliate finals and potentially to the International Conference.

For Creative Writing, students submit their original work through their regional affiliate. Regional affiliate champions are invited to compete at the International Conference.

The International Conference

The International Conference (IC) is FPS’s highest level of competition.

It brings together 2,000+ champion problem solvers and supporters from around the world. The current FPSPI site reports participation from 14+ countries and 34+ U.S. states, and states that approximately 7% of students qualify for the International Conference.

The conference provides students with an opportunity to compete alongside other high-performing problem solvers while becoming part of FPS’s global community.

The 2027 International Conference is scheduled for June 9–13, 2027, at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

What Topics Do Students Explore?

FPS deliberately chooses topics that connect students with important real-world challenges.

The current Topics are:

• Digital Dark Age
• Disappearing Cultures
• Influencer Marketing
• Health Security

The questions are deliberately future-focused. Students are asked to consider not only the problem itself, but how it could evolve and what solutions might be possible.

Does FPS Have Evidence of Impact?

FPSPI publishes research and evaluation findings on its website.

Its current impact page reports:

FPS also reports findings from several studies and evaluations. For example, a 2011 University of Virginia alumni study found that 93% or more of surveyed alumni rated Future Problem Solving as important or extremely important in developing skills including critical thinking, teamwork and collaboration, identifying and solving problems, and time management.

A 2017 study reported significantly higher problem-solving performance for students receiving enhanced group training focused on problem-solving style.

FPS also reports a five-year study in which participating students performed significantly higher on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment in mathematics and reading. These findings are reported by FPSPI; they should not be interpreted as proof that FPS participation alone caused the differences.

For Community Projects, a 2024 Social Return on Investment analysis reported $4.9 million in social value and an SROI ratio of $1:$33.09. FPSPI notes that student gains accounted for almost 80% of the social impact identified in that analysis.

Is Future Problem Solving Right for You?

FPS could be a strong fit if you enjoy:

• Asking “What if?”
• Researching complex issues
• Coming up with unusual ideas
• Thinking about the future
• Writing or storytelling
• Working with a team
• Finding solutions to difficult problems
• Turning ideas into action
• Communicating your thinking

The program is particularly distinctive because it does not stop at identifying a problem. Students are taught a repeatable process for moving from problem → ideas → evaluation → action.

The Bottom Line