Shipwreck Challenge

About This Event

Imagine a ship is sinking, and there is only one life jacket left. Each participant represents a different animal or species (for example: Honeybee, Coral, or even a Human).

Participants must argue why their chosen species deserves the life jacket the most. The person who proves their species is the most useful or important to the planet gets the life jacket and survives.

Rules & Guidelines

• Participants must convince the judge or audience that their species is the most essential to the planet’s future
• Only one species gets the life jacket; the rest sink
• Participants: 2 or more players
• Each participant is assigned or chooses a specific organism (e.g., Honeybee, Plankton, Human, Fungi)
• The stakes: the ship is sinking, and there is only one life jacket

Rules of Engagement

• Round 1 – The Pitch (60 seconds): Introduce your species and argue based on utility and uniqueness
• Round 2 – The Attack (Rebuttal): Counter other species’ arguments and defend your position
• Round 3 – The Final Plea (30 seconds): Final summary explaining why you deserve the life jacket

Judging Criteria

• Scientific Accuracy: Are the facts about the species correct?
• Impact: How catastrophic would extinction of the species be?
• Rhetoric: How persuasive, creative, or witty is the argument?