They’re unassuming stowaways on cargo ships and recreational boats. Pets that are released into the wild. Plants that are introduced to try and help the very environments they come to dominate.

Regardless of how they end up in their new environments, invasive species have one thing in common—they’re out of control.

From water hyacinth smothering the Amazon Basin to sea lampreys devastating native fish in the Great Lakes, and from Burmese pythons invading the Everglades to Cane Toads decimating local predator populations, invasive species pose one of the greatest threats to environmental biodiversity today. They endanger native wildlife, disrupt agriculture, transmit diseases, cost billions in economic damage, and forever alter natural habitats.

Classroom reading and worksheets can teach students what an ecosystem is, but Future Problem Solving’s 2026 World Solutions Challenge will show them, firsthand, how to protect them.

This year, teams in grades 5-8 (ages 10-14) from around the world will jump into a big question: How can we protect our planet’s biodiversity from the threat of invasive species?

Participants in the Challenge will analyze real data, work together in small groups, showcase their ideas, and learn a practical system for solving tough, open-ended problems such as this one.

 

Why Real-World Problem-Solving Matters

Issues like the threat of invasive species are an important reminder of how interconnected the world truly is. Not only are ecosystems across the globe being impacted by harmful non-native plants and wildlife, but this is also an problem that reaches beyond environmental concerns.

Agricultural practices are disrupted by crop-destroying insects and fast-spreading weeds. Infrastructure is impacted by species like zebra mussels, damaging water pipes and treatment systems. The invasive tiger mosquito carries dangerous diseases like West Nile, Dengue, and Zika viruses. And invasive grasses can pose increased wildfire risks as they spread out and dry out faster.

The World Solutions Challenge is all about exploring the interconnected nature of our global issues and giving students the toolkit to make sense of complex problems. Guiding them through how to ask and investigate important questions, how to devise innovative solutions, and how to turn their big ideas into practical plans with a simple, 6-step framework; beginning with identifying core issues and finishing with a step-by-step action plan.

These skills pay off beyond the classroom, remaining with students beyond their schooling experience into their future careers.

 

Getting Started in the 2026 World Solutions Challenge

The World Solutions Challenge is built specifically as an easy starting point for teams new to Future Problem Solving. You don’t need any prior experience or special training to participate.

Here is what you need to know for 2026:

• Open Worldwide: Students anywhere can join! (All materials, submissions, and feedback are in English.)
• Grade Divisions: Grades 5–6 (or US equivalent, ages 10–12) compete in the Junior Division; Grades 7–8 (or US equivalent, ages 12–14) compete in the Middle Division.
• Team Sizes: Teams consist of 2 to 4 students working together on one final project.
• Adult Contact: An adult registers the team and acts as the main point of contact. You don’t need to be a trained coach to sponsor a team. The experience is designed to be student-led. Students will have all they need to work independently, with very little help required.
• Flexible Schedule: The 4-week challenge window runs from September 25 to October 20. Teams can meet whenever, wherever, and as often as fits their schedule—all they need is internet access.
• Online Tools: Everything happens on FPSOnline, an easy-to-use digital platform where students access learning videos, guides, and submission forms.

The $100 entry fee per team covers everything: topic guides, suggested timelines, instructional videos, and professional feedback on the team’s final action plan. It fits right into standard school classrooms, gifted enrichment programs, after-school clubs, or homeschool groups.

Download the flyer here.

 

Registration for the Future Problem Solving 2026 World Solutions Challenge closes on September 15th.

Ready to dive in? Get started now.