When disaster threatens all of humanity, which professor will make the cut to join the survivors?

Five UB faculty members from various disciplines will argue that they are worthy of the coveted final spot in a hypothetical raft that will transport the survivors of a doomsday disaster to safety so they can continue the human race.

The Life Raft Debate, sponsored annually by the UB Honors College, will take place from 6-8 p.m. March 6 in the Student Union Theatre, North Campus. Audience members will determine the winner based on the arguments made by the five faculty members.

This year’s contestants:

• Martha Bohm, associate professor of architecture and associate dean for academic affairs, School of Architecture and Planning.
• Mark Frank, professor of communication, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Chad Levin, associate professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Cecilia Martinez-Leon, associate professor of teaching and director of the Engineering Management Program, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
• Noemi Waight, associate professor of learning and instruction, Graduate School of Education.

Patrick F. McDevitt, academic director of the Honors College and the winner of the fifth Life Raft Debate, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Joseph Costa, instructor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the winner of last year’s debate, will serve as devil’s advocate.