Life Raft Debate

About the Life Raft Debate

In the annual UBCO Society of Scholars Life Raft Debate, we imagine that a catastrophic event has wiped out most of humanity and the survivors (the audience) must sail off to rebuild society.

Only one final seat remains on the life raft. Invited professors will each argue that their discipline is the one indispensable area of study that the new civilization will need to survive.

Finally, one professor will take on the role of devil’s advocate and argue that the survivors should actually choose no one and that their new society will be better off without a professor aboard.

You and the audience decide who, if anyone, gets to take that final seat on the life raft.   

If you are interested in being a part of the Life Raft Debate or you have a suggestion for a debater for next year’s event, please contact us at scholars.ok@ubc.ca.

2023 Life Raft Debate

Crash Landing Edition

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Time: 7 pm
Location: COM 201 and over Zoom

Debaters in this year’s Life Raft Debate have crash-landed on a tropical deserted island. Recognizing the necessity for governance in their new home, the survivors hold an election to determine who will become their leader and last hope.

This is their chance to campaign as the new leader of the island. With all the resources provided to stay alive, the chosen one must take on the challenge of forming a new and sustainable culture if escape proves futile.

Using their disciplinary background, the chosen one must run the new Council of Creation that will guide the survivors to new heights of thinking, aesthetics, and artistic production until help arrives to take them back home… one day. 

Presented by the Society of Scholars.

Previous debates

2022 Life Raft Debate

Time Traveller Edition

2021 Life Raft Debate

Escape to Mars Edition

2020 Life Raft Debate

Zombie Apocalypse Edition

2019 Life Raft Debate