Future Problem Solving International Conference

Dio Future Problem Solving team, from left – Sarah Young, Lara Johns, Mrs Suzanne Buswell, Priscilla Huang and Ava Phillimore.

n late 2018, Diocesan’s 2018 Year 10 Future Problem Solving team of Lara Johns, Priscilla Huang, Ava Phillimore and Sarah Young came first out of the nine teams in the Middle Division booklet competition at the Future Problem Solving National Finals. This qualified them to attend the FPS International Finals from 5-9 June 2019 at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.

Teams from 14 countries around the world and 37 states across America participated in various division competitions at the Future Problem Solving International Finals. While there were fabulous opportunities for sightseeing in San Francisco before the competition and in Boston after it, the Future Problem Solving Internationals were the main focus of the trip.

During the four-day stay at the University of Massachusetts, the students explored the enormous university campus and its buildings. The opening ceremony included the flag ceremony and inspiring speeches from prominent people in today’s world. The main competition occurred the following day, which included completing a two-hour booklet on the topic of de-extinction and a dramatic presentation of the team’s action plan of their best solution. The next day the students participated in a scavenger hunt around the University, learning more about its history. That evening a social gave them another chance to meet others from around the globe and make new connections. The last day consisted of the closing ceremony, and it was a bittersweet moment when the international finals had ended.

While the various experiences from this trip will remain in their memories forever, the opportunity to be truly immersed in the culture of Future Problem Solving was especially valuable for these students. They gained greater knowledge of the Future Problem Solving thinking process and the high level of critical thinking involved in the international competition. Apart from the competition, the students enjoyed discovering more about American culture and the experience of living at an American university. They were overwhelmed by the diverse number of participants involved in this global competition. The memento exchange where they exchanged their Kiwi souvenirs for souvenirs from different countries around the world, was one of their favourite experiences.

This Diocesan team returned from the international finals ready to help younger teams work through the Future Problem Solving process and they are keen to see if they can qualify again to attend the 2020 international finals.

The Diocesan team share their Kiwi mementos with students from around the world at the memento exchange.