WISCONSIN FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING
DIVISIONS OF PARTICIPATION
Global Issues PS, Community PS, Scenario Writing, Scenario Performance
JUNIOR DIVISION
Grades 4-6
MIDDLE DIVISION
Grades 7-9
SENIOR DIVISION
Grades 10-12
I'm a
ADULT DIVISION
Post High School
(GIPS only)
2023-24 TOPICS
for Global Issues, Scenario Writing, and Scenario Performance
TOURISM
Practice Problem 1
Steps 1-3 submitted
URBANIZATION
Practice Problem 2
Steps 1-6 submitted
ANTARCTICA
Qualifying Problem
Steps 1-6 submitted
Competitive Conditions
AUTONOMOUS
TRANSPORTATION
State Bowl Competition
Steps 1-6
Completed in Competition
Our transport needs, desires & realities are rapidly changing due to global growth & increased connectivity. As modes of transportation continue to evolve, increasing levels of complexity and efficiency are pursued. What role will autonomous vehicles (cars, airplanes, ships, etc.), which operate without human intervention, play in this pursuit? Their development continues to increase exponentially with advancing technological capabilities. By creating a network of these vehicles, entire systems of transport could become autonomous, controlled by a central AI. In what ways will autonomous transport impact jobs, industries, infrastructure, and lifestyles?
Travel enriches our lives and expands our understanding of people and cultures, while also serving as a respite from daily life. The economic stability of travel destinations depends on the sustainability of their tourist trade. As the popularity of such destinations grows, international corporations and developers typically flock to these growing places, trying to capitalize on the financial possibilities (building hotels & restaurants & developing an areas' growing tourism industry). As outside groups seek to attract tourists and the revenue they generate, locals often struggle to maintain their location's unique appeal and ability to support local venues. As this build-up occurs, local people can have their cultures exploited, lands destroyed, and their businesses put in jeopardy. As the tourism sector grows and expands, we are seeing the expansion of the Special Interest (SIT) market -- tourists wishing to match their vacations with their interests (e.g., ecotourism, wellness tourism, event tourism, ancestry tourism, etc.). How can the advantages of expanding tourism be balanced with the protection of destinations?
Today nearly half the world's population lives in an urban area. By 2050, that number is expected to reach 70% due to this increase in urban shift. Urban areas and their large populations often hold power over governance, economic development, and international connectivity beyond their immediate regions. With proper planning, urban centers can provide educational and economic opportunities to residents not found elsewhere. However, they can also easily give rise to slums and increase income inequality. With growing footprints, cities are also struggling to provide basic needs, essential services, and safety. As urban areas expand, how can we develop areas that are efficient, resilient, and inclusive?
Antarctica, the highest, driest, coldest continent, has no permanent population and is governed by a collection of agreements between 54 countries. The Antarctic Treaty System designates the entire continent and surrounding waters for scientific endeavors, bans military activity, and promotes environmental researching preservation. Although Antarctica remains the most remote place on Earth, it is highly regulated and heavily impacted by activities around the globe. Parts of the continent are polluted by sewage, discarded machinery, fuel products, and rubbish. Antarctica is thought to be rich in minerals and resources, though an "indefinite" ban on mining is in place through 2048. Antarctica holds over 60% of the earth's fresh water in an ice sheet that contains 90% of the earth's total ice volume. As temperatures rise, these are breaking apart and melting faster, endangering local wildlife and entire ecosystems. Without a consistent population or a sovereign state, Antarctica possesses a unique space within political, economic, and environmental crossroads. How can Antarctica be sustainable utilized, yet simultaneously preserved to best benefit our global population?
FPS taught me most importantly to be original. FPS fosters creativity and personality, which are what people look for later on in life.
Michala Meyerhofer
Product Marketing Specialist for Heritage Tile in Verona, Wisconsin