'''Future Problem Solving Program International''' ('''FPSPI''') is a non-profit educational program that organizes academic competitions in which students apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to hypothetical future situations. The program looks at current technological, geopolitical, and societal trends and projects those trends 20–30 years into the future in order to train students to develop solutions to the challenges they may face as adults. FPSPI was founded by creativity researcher [[Ellis Paul Torrance]] in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fpspi.org/what-is-fpspi/|title=What is FPSPI?|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref> Today, thousands of students from over a dozen20 countries participate in the program each year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Find an Affiliate|url=https://www.fpspi.org/slider/find-an-affiliate/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref> Most FPSPI components are open to students who are in the equivalent of the [[Education in the United States#Educational stages|U.S. grade level]] range of 4 through 12.
== Pedagogy ==
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FPSPI consists of state and nationwide organizations called affiliates. Each affiliate is responsible for conducting the competitions which take place in its own geographic area. Students begin preparing for competition at the start of each school year. Depending on the affiliate and the type of competition, there may be regional, state, or national levels of competition that take place during the year. Only the winners of any given competition qualify to proceed to the next level. The highest level of competition takes place at the annual International Conference (IC), which is held in May or June, at the end of the United States school year. The IC is held at the campus of a public university in the United States (the country with the largest number of competitors), with a new ___location being chosen every two years.
== Affiliate Programs ==
The following areas have official FPS organisations<ref>{{Cite web|title=Find an Affiliate – Future Problem Solving Program International|url=https://www.fpspi.org/slider/find-an-affiliate/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref>:
