Defense etiquette

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So, I'm submitting my first deposit of my dissertation tomorrow ( ). My defense is coming up, and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't attended anyone else's defense yet.

A couple of quick questions...

Food or no food? For a few recent defenses in my dept, the student brought bagels. But, my friends who are close to defending say that this isn't the norm in their depts. My defense is at 1 pm so I thought coffee and bagels might not be a bad thing though.

Open? I realize that the talk is open to the public, and a few students wanted to come (mostly just to see how it goes, for their own experience - not because the subject material is so fascinating). But, I feel funny asking specific friends to come, especially when it's not their field and will probably just bore the hell out of them (same goes for my other half).

Finally, gifts? Is it commonplace to give anything to your committee members? I feel like they deserve a "thank-you" more than just a mention in the acknowledgements, because they were very helpful, constructive, and patient with me. I only mean a small token (something like a coffee mug or something small related to the college). But, I also do not want to be tacky if that's not a common thing to do.

PS: It should be obvious that I'm social inept and overthink things way too much. ("Does this seem genuine or does it seem like I'm sucking up?", "Are people going to feel obligated to come if I ask them?") I'm such a spaz

I took cookies and water to my defense.

I invited people that wanted to come eventhough not all of them were scientists.

I didn't give any gifts to my committee members. I am planning to give all of them bound copy of my thesis. I heard this was something that should be done to be polite.

Originally Posted by dante201

So, I'm submitting my first deposit of my dissertation tomorrow ( ). My defense is coming up, and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't attended anyone else's defense yet.

Congrats.

Originally Posted by dante201

Food or no food? For a few recent defenses in my dept, the student brought bagels. But, my friends who are close to defending say that this isn't the norm in their depts. My defense is at 1 pm so I thought coffee and bagels might not be a bad thing though.

I think coffee and bagels would be very appropriate. I had sandwiches and snacks plus drinks at my defense.

Originally Posted by dante201

Open? I realize that the talk is open to the public, and a few students wanted to come (mostly just to see how it goes, for their own experience - not because the subject material is so fascinating). But, I feel funny asking specific friends to come, especially when it's not their field and will probably just bore the hell out of them (same goes for my other half).

If you want them to be there, ask them to come. I made my mom, who didn't even go to college and knows absolutely nothing about chemistry, come to mine for moral support. This is your day. If you want your friends and your partner to be there for you, tell them.

Originally Posted by dante201

Finally, gifts? Is it commonplace to give anything to your committee members? I feel like they deserve a "thank-you" more than just a mention in the acknowledgements, because they were very helpful, constructive, and patient with me. I only mean a small token (something like a coffee mug or something small related to the college). But, I also do not want to be tacky if that's not a common thing to do.

No, I'd nix the gifts. This is their job, and they may not even be permitted to accept gifts. What you could do would be to write them all thank you notes if you wanted. I actually went and thanked all of my committee members in person.

Originally Posted by dante201

PS: It should be obvious that I'm social inept and overthink things way too much. ("Does this seem genuine or does it seem like I'm sucking up?", "Are people going to feel obligated to come if I ask them?") I'm such a spaz

It's understandable. This is a tense time of your life. You're almost there though, and you're going to make it. So hang in there.

I didn't bring any food at my defense but coffee seems ok. I wouldn't bother with a full spread.
Tell people you would want to come. Don't get upset if they don't.
No gifts but a CD with a copy of your dissertation for their records and a thank you card would be good.

Dang, you're quick dante .

Originally Posted by Doctor&Geek

Dang, you're quick dante .

Quick? Half my entering class finished last year. We're supposed to shoot for Feb-Mar, but my boss is trying to kick me out of the nest. After the festering pile of dung I turned out today, I think I understand why

Thanks for the suggestions, btw. And, yes - I realize that it's advertised, but I'm not expecting a big turn-out of pharmacoepidemiologists. Plus, I just gave my talk at the dept seminar a few weeks ago, so interested folks could have caught it then.

I need a nap.

Bound copy of the thing is almost a necessity.
If your committee was helpful, then I don't think a token of appreciation is out of line, but certainly not required -- unless your committee is a bunch of aristocratic Europeans who expect fielty and homage as liege Lord. I had one of those on my initial committee and it was one of my greatest triumphs to engineer him off the committee when he took a sabbatical. I had a committee of well respected scholars that liked each other.

Originally Posted by AndyMilonakis

Your thesis defense day is your day. It's all about you, you, and you.

Totally. My department put up fliers and the MSTP program coordinator always sent out an email, so invites weren't necessary.

Also the department always had a reception later in the afternoon in your honor, so refreshements weren't necessary either. I did, however, bring some pastries and coffee to the private committee meeting that occurs after the public defense.

As for gifts, they all got bound copies. And my lab bought me a kickass wok.

Congrats on finishing!

Hey dante,

Are you done with the defense yet? Let us know how it went/goes!

Originally Posted by dante201

Food or no food?

I brought a nice spread to all of my thesis committee meetings, but no food to the defense since it was in a "no food" auditorium and it seemed awkward to feed the committee and not the audience.

Originally Posted by dante201

I feel funny asking specific friends to come, especially when it's not their field and will probably just bore the hell out of them (same goes for my other half).

For whatever reason, family and friends like that stuff. My mom, dad, and aunt all flew from Cali to Philly to attend, and my engineering hubby came also. Just forward them the adveritisng email if you don't want people to feel obligated.

Originally Posted by dante201

Finally, gifts? Is it commonplace to give anything to your committee members? I feel like they deserve a "thank-you" more than just a mention in the acknowledgements,

Though I did not give my committee anything AT THE DEFENSE, where it seems suspect, after they passed me and signed off on everything I made gift baskets containing goodies and a bottle of wine and I sealed a nice thank you letter inside. I also ordered a basket for my external reviewer at Oxford from a UK website. They really liked them, and I felt it was a great way to "end" the relationship.

PS:
This is an appropriate time to be a spaz

Originally Posted by QofQuimica

Hey dante,

Are you done with the defense yet? Let us know how it went/goes!

Next Monday. Gar. I expect that I'll need a lot of bourbon the rest of that week.

Good luck today!

Best wishes on your defense Dante!! I wish I could be there, and congrats!!

I didn't do anything at all for my committee members. No bound copy of my thesis or anything. Heck, even I don't have a bound copy of my thesis. Didn't bring food. I brought some champagne and stuff to the lab afterwards.

Anyway, best wishes to you!!

Originally Posted by QofQuimica

Hey dante,

Are you done with the defense yet? Let us know how it went/goes!

Over all, not too bad. Lots of revisions and they want to have another meeting before they sign off on it, but the public defense is over and my return to the wards won't be delayed. Good enough for me.

Awesome man........congratulations! Can't hope for any better than that!

Originally Posted by dante201

Over all, not too bad. Lots of revisions and they want to have another meeting before they sign off on it, but the public defense is over and my return to the wards won't be delayed. Good enough for me.

Congrats!