U-46 fifth-graders place first in Future Problem Solvers state contest

Solving a growing global refugee crisis is an ongoing challenge for nations and world leaders.

But crafting solutions 25 years into the future takes some creativity.

It's what earned a team of fifth-graders from Glenbrook Elementary School in Streamwood first place in the Future Problem Solvers state competition.

Their innovative ideas included photon teleportation to help refugees get from one place to another, an artificial intelligence-powered speaking chip to help translate their thoughts into the host country's language, and using 5G holographic devices to help teach them farming skills.

"(The ideas) are always going to be a little bit out there," said Ellen Smith, a coach for Elgin Area School District U-46's IGNITE gifted education program. "They always have to be futuristic."

Future Problem Solvers is an international program aimed at developing students' problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Glenbrook's IGNITE program fifth-graders Mannat Ashta, Risha Lakkadi, Veer Gupta and Yuvan Ganne won Illinois' junior division contest in April in which 34 teams competed.

"It's the first time a (U-46) junior team has won it," said Smith, a fourth grade IGNITE teacher at Glenbrook who has been mentoring student teams from elementary through high school for six years.

Students did extensive research to come up with ideas for each stage of the Future Problem Solvers contest since last October. They tackled scenarios, such as international travel, gamification and poverty. After qualifying at state, the team will compete in a virtual international competition June 5 against teams from 38 states and 15 countries. Their problem topic is terraforming - transforming a planet to resemble earth so it can support human life.

Team members previously competed as fourth-graders and won state in the elementary division last year, but did not place in the international competition.

"This year, they are not as nervous because they did it once before," Smith said.

A team of four ninth-graders from Bartlett High School's STEM Magnet Academy also competed and placed second at state. They also will move on to the international contest. Those students are: Mann Sheth, Anant Sheth, Arjun Sivasankaran, and Danyal Sulemanjee.

"I have really seen the program grow and succeed," Smith said. "I am very proud of all the students who join, as it does require a lot of extra work, above and beyond the work they do for their classes."