Founded in 1978, the program challenges teams from schools around the world to compete in events designed to promote "creativity, problem solving, teamwork and more," according to its website. 

The teams are placed into one of four divisions based on age, ranging from kindergarten through the collegiate level.

This marks the eighth time MSU has hosted the competition. Events will take place in multiple campus buildings, including the STEM Building, Wells Hall, Breslin Center, Kellogg Center and IM West. "Please prepare for heavy traffic on roads and a large number of pedestrians," the Office of Student Life and Engagement wrote in a statement earlier this week.

Teams are assigned one of six long-term problems and are tasked with solving them in creative ways that often incorporate STEM, art and performance. While the problem categories remain the same each year — vehicle, technology, classics, structure, performance and spontaneous — the specific synopses change annually.

This year’s technical problem, for example, asks students to design, build and operate a mech-animal sidekick that "has the ability to make people happy." In addition to the STEM requirements, students must also incorporate live music into their performance.

"The competition rewards how students think and their approach to solving our problems instead of rating simple yes or no solutions," Odyssey of the Mind spokesperson Jennifer Veale said in an email to The State News.

“MSU and East Lansing are always so welcoming to our international community,” Veale wrote. The spokesperson said that MSU's "ability to accommodate such a large group of people with many different needs" is what makes MSU a prime location to host the event.

With thousands of visitors set to arrive, the 2025 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals promises a week filled with creativity, collaboration and campus-wide activity.