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.
Previous debates
2025 Life Raft Debate
Back to the Raft Edition
OPENING REMARKS
Dr. Lesley Cormack | 2021 Debater
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal
DEBATERS
Dr. Paul Milton | Associate Professor
English and Cultural Studies
Dr. Michael Woodworth | Professor
Department of Psychology
David James Doody | Lecturer
Creative Studies
Dr. Karen Hodges | Professor
Department of Biology
host
Tracy Ross | Lecturer
Creative Studies
Winner
2025 champion: Dr. Karen Hodges
2024 Life Raft Debate
Vampiric Curse Edition
OPENING REMARKS
Dr. Lesley Cormack | 2021 Debater
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal
DEBATERS
Dr. Jannik Eikenaar
School of Engineering
Dr. Melissa Jacques
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
Dr. Jessica Lougheed
Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Science
Dr. Wesley Zandberg
Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
host
Dr. Matthew Nelson | 2023 Winner
Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
SPECIAL GUEST
Tom Leveen, MFA candidate and instructor, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
Winner
2024 Champion: Dr. Wesley Zandberg
2023 Life Raft Debate
Crash Landing Edition
Opening remarks
Dr. Lesley Cormack | 2021 Debater
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Debaters
Dr. Alon Eisenstein
Engineering
Dr. Jordan Stouck
English
Dr. Renaud-Philippe Garner
Philosophy
host
Dr. Greg Garrard | 2022 Winner
English
Devil’s advocate
Dr. Matthew Nelson
Biology
Winner
2023 Champion: Dr. Matthew Nelson
2022 Life Raft Debate
Time Traveller Edition
Debaters
Dr. Tamara Freeman
Chemistry
Dr. Liane Gabora
Psychology
Dr. Vicki Komisar
Engineering
Michael V. Smith
Creative Writing
Tamara Ebl
Management
Devil’s Advocate
Dr. Greg Garrard
English
Host
Dr. Robin Young
Biology
2021 Debater
Winner
2022 Champion: Dr. Greg Garrard
2021 Life Raft Debate
Escape to Mars Edition
Debaters
Dr. Lesley Cormack
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Dr. Greg duManoir
Health and Exercise Sciences
Dr. Sandy Hilton
Management
Dr. Ray Taheri
Engineering
2020 Defending Champion
Dr. Robin Young
Biology
Devil’s Advocate
Dr. Bryce Traister
English
Host
Dr. Stephen McNeil
Chemistry
2019 Champion
Winner
2021 Champion: Dr. Ray Taheri
2020 Life Raft Debate
Zombie Apocalypse Edition
Debaters
Dr. Deborah Buszard
University Administration
Dr. Greg duManoir
Human Kinetics
Dr. Stephen McNeil
Chemistry
2019 Defending Champion
Dr. Ray Taheri
Engineering
Dr. Bryce Traister
English
Devil’s Advocate
Dr. Jan Cioe
Psychology
Host
Dr. Peter Arthur
Education
Winner
2020 Champion: Dr. Ray Taheri
2019 Life Raft Debate
Debaters
Dr. Denise Kenney
Theatre
Dr. Stephen McNeil
Chemistry
Dr. Christine Schreyer
Anthropology
Dr. Ray Taheri
Engineering
Dr. Michael Woodworth
Psychology
Devil’s Advocate
Dr. Marianne Legault
Languages and World Literatures
Host
Dr. Peter Arthur
Education
2019 Champion: Dr. Stephen McNeil
