[vilmi]

Scenario: Earth has suffered a major cataclysm. Total destruction is imminent. It is possible to evacuate 7 (seven) people only on a space shuttle to an uninhabited planet which is barely hospitable. You decide to pick the seven from the best in the most important fields of human activity.

Question:

What specialists would make it to your team? Where needed, add an “over Y” near your chosen X, which would translate as “I'd pick X over Y because X could transition to Y's job faster than viceversa.”
Here are my personal views (not necessarily in the order of importance):

1. Physician (generalist over specialists)
   
2. Physicist (over Chemist)
   
3. Mathematician
   
4. Computer Scientist
   
5. Mechanical Engineer (over other engineers)
   
6. Biologist
   
7. Philosopher (over Psychologist)

…...

Please post only serious, relevant answers with a list of 7! Don't bother otherwise.

[NeedKarma]

I guess we won't bother then.

[ma0641]

Will you turn in OUR answers as YOUR homework?

[teacherjenn4]

Where's the teacher on your list?

[J_9]

Philosopher?

[Fr_Chuck]

Really none of them

1. Physician (generalist over specialists)
2. Physicist (over Chemist)
3. Mathematician
4. Computer Scientist
5. Mechanical Engineer (over other engineers)
6. Biologist
7. Philosopher (over Psychologist)

I see little use for Computer Scientist, the only computer equipment is that in space craft, What exactly is a Physicist or Mathematician going to do on a barren planet?
Who will design shelter, who is going to do the work to build any of this.

The issue of male and female to continue population is also an issue, (although not discussed)

Consider this from a world without technology, where the very basic buildings, very basic education has to start over.

[Curlyben]

Well the future of the human race is doomed.
This group would find it extremely difficult on an uninhabited planet which is barely hospitable.
The PRIMARY skill set would be those of a survivalist, the rest can be learnt as needed.
Why would you need a computer scientist, or are you assuming that they are sent with a fully equipped ready made base of some sort.

[Fr_Chuck]

Agree, I am OK with the doctor, perhaps one that did work in 3rd world nations so use to working in worst conditions without normal medications. But a farmer, people trained in survival, someone for building. This will require people who will have to endure hardships. The given list would never survive.

Of course I would assume this is some school work and none of the choice are good ones, and you will have to defend why you made your choice.

[vilmi]

Why people assume this is homework?

In a way, it could be, but it is more of a study of sort.

One key idea is the grounds people could cover when confronted with special situations. In other words, who has more chances to do things usually assigned to others.

For example, related to your replies - I see no problem with a Mathematician/Physicist/Comp.Scientist calculating the design of a reliable 'shelter', and the best use of resources. Could a farmer do the same quality of work in the same time? Doubtful. While the scientists could do farm work if needed, the reverse is harder.

A Computer Scientist along with a Mechanical Engineer could even in time build robots who do basic chores. Yes, assuming they could gather the necessary resources and have electrical power. But again, who's more capable of designing a power generator - an engineer or a survivalist?.

True, the question doesn't supply more information. One has to choose people who have the potential to do more than just one thing and consider long term development.

[joypulv]

Dumb question. Field of expertise? I'd pick healthy, intelligent people, 3 or 4 of them fertile women, all within a variable age range, so that youth counts for stamina and age counts for wisdom.
You make fields sound important. They aren't. What good is a physician without all his equipment and medicines, when someone like an army medic who also can fix just about anything mechanical and hunt for food would do so much more? What good is a philosopher who can't relate well with others, and won't do back breaking work growing food?
ETC
ETC

(I would like to go, just to offer my elderly creaky corpse for the first compost heap in the biosphere. Assuming there's room on the ship.)