News
and Events
|
News
and Events |
See the latest calendar
for FPSP Australia events during 2008 ( updated
May 2008)
See our Training page for details
of forthcoming workshops around Australia and overseas ( updated October 26th 2008)
See our News Archive for past
news ( updated October 26th 2007)
Future Talk Issue 20.1 ( May
2008 ) Click to download a pdf file copy
Future Talk Issue 20.2( July 2008 ) Click to download a pdf file copy
We are delighted that two key members of FPSP International - Marianne Solomon (Executive Director) and Vicki Stein (Program Director)- will be there to help us recognise a remarkable milestone.
Not just a future problem, but a real one today! The crisis in world finance was tackled by school students from all over Australia, South East Asia and South Africa last weekend.
Over 400 students, the region’s top problem solvers, gathered to face the challenge of the Future Problem Solving Program National Finals at the University of Melbourne from October 17-19, on the set topic of Debt in Developing Countries.
However, with uncanny premonition, while their actual Finals problem was set in 2038, in a world where the new ‘developing’ countries included Australia, the USA and Europe, it was a scene already too familiar to us, with escalating debt and financial crisis.
Organisers were most interested to see how these students, the leaders of our societies in the future, would manage such shifts in global power and the problems that we are already unexpectedly facing. Their ideas stressed the importance of inter-country collaboration, by matching wealthy and poorer countries. Some advocated more stringent government controls, accepting a loss of individual and social freedom as necessary to restore financial security.
The Future Problem Solving Program, which involves over 250,000 primary and secondary students throughout the world each year, teaches participants a problem solving methodology, then sets a major world problem each term for research. From this, students are asked to develop solutions to a futuristic problem based on the issue.
The thousands of students who have participated in this program over these years have been clear about its importance: “I learned more about life, and tackling its problems, from the FPS Program than from anything else I did in twelve years of schooling.”
Australian winners of these Finals will be invited to represent their country at the International Finals at Michigan State University next June, as will winners of the other main branch of the Program, Community Problem Solving. A full set of results can be viewed by clicking here.
Visiting Executive Director of Future Problem Solving Program International, Marianne Solomon, commented: “These students are our world leaders of the future. The ideas they develop now, and their problem solving skills, will create our future world. On the basis of what I’ve seen this weekend, I know we will be in good hands.”
A selection of photographs from the National Finals can be viewed by here.
With the 20th anniversary of Future Problem Solving in Australia occurring during October 2008, the 2008 National Finals was the start of a number of important celebrations in commemoration of this special occasion. Given the substantial record of support and activity by many people over the last twenty years, the current Committee of Management decided that it was appropriate to mark our twenttieth year with the institution of a Roll of Honour. This record will be an online document, a commemoration of all those who have made a significant contribution to FPS in Australia over the life of is existence. After 2008, there will be a new set of inductees each year at the Finals, to be announced along with the existing E. Paul Torrance Awards for contributions by students and coaches. In memory of our founder, the record will be known as the Keith Frampton Roll of Honour, with membership awarded at two levels: Member and Fellow. Members are eligible to be upgraded to Fellow if their ongoing record demands it.
The Roll of Honour of 2008 is now available online.
A web gallery of the function held to mark the Launch of the Roll of Honour can be see by clicking here.
After their initial success in the International Scenario Writing Results ( see below), Australian students have once again achieved success across all parts of the FPS Program in Michigan, USA. The full set of the Australian results can be seen by clicking here and will also be made available to registered coaches via FlexiComm. Particular congratulations are due to the Middle Division CmPS team from Blacktown Girls High in Sydney, who were named Grand Champion in that section: a magnificent achievement!
International Scenario Writing Results 2008
Program Administrator's Hours in 2008
Suzanne Digby is our Program Administrator.
Prior to joining FPSP Australia, Suzanne had an extensive career in private
industry, particularly in the communications field.
Suzanne's hours of work are listed below and are partly designed to give teachers
the opportunity to contact her both before and after school on certain days.
Her aim is to have a 24-hour turnaround in responding to any contact made with
the national office.
Suzanne's hours in 2008 will be
Tuesday: 8:30am to 4pm
Wednesday: 8.30am to 4pm
Monday, Thursday and Friday: email responses only
Please click here to see the current list of the calendar dates for the Future Problem Solving Program in 2008
The Privacy Policy for FPSP Australia Inc is available for schools to access.
In particular, all coaches should read it as the details include the policy
regarding the use of photographs of students on the FPSP Australia website.
Click here to see a copy of the policy.
See our News Archive for past news.
Niranjan Casinader
National Director