Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS) is a competitive component of FPSPI which can be accomplished as a team of 4 or individual activity. Participants research a series of global topics and learn a six-step creative problem solving process. Problem solvers apply their topic and creative problem solving knowledge to address a charge presented in an imagined situation, termed Future Scene.
Trained evaluators score student work and return it with feedback including suggestions for improvement. The top scoring teams and individuals on the qualifying problem are invited to Affiliate FPS Competitions. The winners of each respective Affiliate FPS Competition advance to the FPSP International Conference in June.
Four divisions are offered: Junior (grades 4-6), Middle (grades 7-9), Senior (grades 10-12), and Adult.