Top solution by Elizabeth
Thinking her way out of a tight spot isn’t a problem for solutions whiz Elizabeth Huang.
The St Cuthbert’s College student, 15, placed first in the International Future Problem Solving Competition.
The annual competition was held in the United States at Indiana University from June 6 to 9 and is open to high school students from around the world.
It aims to prepare students for leadership roles by stimulating their critical and creative thinking skills and encouraging them to develop a vision for the future.
Students are given a future scenario and must come up with an action plan to solve the problem the scenario contains.
They apply a six-step problem solving process and tackle the social, scientific, political, economic and technological issues involved.
This year’s topic was the Global Status of Women.
Elizabeth’s solution to problems associated with the status of women was an exchange programme where men and women swap places, so men learn and understand the discrimination women can face.
The Mt Eden resident competed in the individual booklet category in the Middle Division, considered one of the most challenging of the very academic programme.
She had just two hours to complete the six-step problem solving process on her own.
However, Elizabeth is no novice, having already competed with a school team in 2011.
Last year she also won the national New Zealand Problem Solving title.
She says the best part of the international competition is meeting people from around the world and seeing their approach to different problems.
‘‘It’s been an eyeopening experience.’’