Will Dmitri's Thesis Defence Be a Success Tonight?

[Kalimaa23]

I have my thesis defence tonight at 17h CET.

If you like, I've put the presentation online
http://www.geocities.com/dimitri_terryn/Presentatie_thesis.ppt

It's in Dutch, but I will translate it when I have the time (i.e. after graduation).

 

[Maxwell]

Good luck!

 

[Kurdt]

I'm sure you'll do fine.

 

[J77]

Succes!

Tho' you don't have many pictures in your talk

I see you're in tena - I know a lot of people in tona

 

[hypatia]

I wish you the best!

 

[Astronuc]

Dimitri, Best wishes for much success on your thesis defense.

 

[scorpa]

Good luck!

 

[JasonRox]

Best Wishes!

Have fun up there too.

 

[mattmns]

Good luck, you will do great

 

[marlon]

good luck man

marlon

 

[Evo]

I know you'll do great! Can't wait for your follow up post.

 

[Moonbear]

Best wishes! You'll do great! We'll have to have a big party tonight for you and Clausius, who just passed his candidacy exams.

 

[Tsu]

Good luck, Dimitri! You'll do GREAT!

 

[Kalimaa23]

Thanks for all the support!

Short version : it went great!

Long version : it began well when my advisor let me know that another member of the jury was "impressed" by the thesis. Especially considering that my advisor had never seen any of it before I handed it in, I did most of my writing when he was on a (well deserved) holiday.

Naturally I had laptop problems. My advisor had been kind enough te lend my his beamer. I have two laptops at home, and naturally neither of them wanted to work with it. So I quickly called up a friend to give me the Student Goverment laptop for the day. I got the beamer to work 10 minutes before the defense.

The defense itself went great. I can safely say that I'm a decent public speaker, and I always seem to go into a sort of "trance" when speaking to an audience. My mouth connects to my brain without my higher brain functions interfering. After the 20min presentation, each member of the five man jury got to ask questions. Then something wonderful happenend. EACH ONE of them started the questioning with congratulating my on writing a great thesis. Some of the questions were tough, dealing with stuff I had not even had the time to look at that were only sideways related to the topic. It was really humbling to stand before people that have such a grasp of these things. I did my best and it went ok.

Another thing that really touched me was a small speech by my advisor saying how he was really impressed with the work done, considering that most of my time is spent on university administration. To give you an idea, I'm a student representative in the physics department council, the science faculty council, the science faculty executive committee, the university board, the university research counsil and the university executive council. Besides that I'm also vice-president of the Student Government. I know I've let my advisor down a few times this year, with me not being able to spent enough time on research, but he was always very understanding.

Best of all, I think there's a very good chance of finding funding for a PhD next year, and my advisor was very enthousiastic about it. I'll let you know how it turns out

Today, life is good.

 

[neutrino]

That's great news, Dimitri. CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[franznietzsche]

Way to go!

Where is the high-five smiley? What do you mean we don't have one??

 

[devious_]

Good job! And best of luck while you work towards that PhD!

 

[Moonbear]

Congrats! Always great to hear another success story here!

 

[Cyrus]

Nice work Sir, as always of course.

 

[Astronuc]

CONGRATULATIONS! Dimitri. Cheers!

We need a toasting smiley or a bottoms-up smiley.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Congratulations Dimitri! Well done.

 

[mattmns]

Sweet! Congrats!

 

[Kalimaa23]

I see you're in tena - I know a lot of people in tona

Do you? Interesting, what's your link with them?

I've had a class from Jan Danckaert, a great guy. I also get along well with Irina Verentenicoff. As for the students there, Lendert Gelens was in my year, he's starting a PhD with Danckaert next year.

 

[J77]

Do you? Interesting, what's your link with them?

I'm a laser guy - theory side tho'

I wouldn't class Jan as someone that I know - tho' we have met and we share a few coauthors

 

[Evo]

Thanks for all the support!

Short version : it went great!

Absolutely fantastic! You're going places, I can just feel it. I'll be looking for those celebratory chocolates.

 

[turbo]

Absolutely fantastic! You're going places, I can just feel it. I'll be looking for those celebratory chocolates.

Hey! You're supposed to dip into your hoard and send Dmitri the celebratory chocolates! You sisters...always running the scam.

Good job, Dmitri! And may I add that you are one busy guy. I did all the clubs, student government, honor society stuff in HS, but I buckled down and spent that time studying when I went to college. I wouldn't have been able to carry >12 credits in engineering courses and do what you've been doing, too. Congratulations.