You've survived the apocalypse. Now it's time to rebuild.

Rebuilding society requires specialized skills. But what types of skills, knowledge or leadership styles are most crucial to humanity's survival?

Join University Housing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Union Theatre for the annual Life Raft Debate. Listen to a panel of professors debate what field of knowledge deserves the top spot in rebuilding the new world.

Then vote for yourself.

Attendees can win survival-themed prizes. After the event, there will be a reception with the professors. Light refreshments will be served.

This year's Life Raft Debate will feature the following faculty:

• Kate Chapman, psychological science
• Kate Shoulders, agriculture education, communications and technology
• Noah Bilig, landscape architecture
• Matthew Patitz, computer science and computer engineering

The Debate

Professors will be asked to defend the merits of their own disciplines while showing how their disciplines contribute to society at large.

There will be several rounds of debate, and students vote for who should advance to the next round. The debate will offer a unique intellectual experience that challenges students to consider the impact that academic life has on society.

"Life Raft" debates started almost 20 years ago at the University of Montevallo in Alabama. Since then, several universities including Cornell University, University of Buffalo, the College of William and Mary, and University College Dublin have started their own annual traditions. The goal of the event is to help students see the value of their academic training in a much broader context.

About @Home. Life Raft Debate is a part of University Housing's @Home series. The @Home series includes 14 events throughout the 2017-2018 academic year designed to promote the three primary tenants of academic success, personal development and multicultural education.