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SEND OUT WHEN COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED
(about 3 months before defence)


Subject: Practical information for the defence

Dear committee members,

I thank you again for being willing to serve in the Ph.D. committee
for the evaluation of the thesis of ............

I would like to give you some practical information about the procedure for
the defence.

Candidate: .....................
Title thesis: .....................
Date of the defence: .....................

Committee members:
  1st opponent: 
  2nd opponent: 
  Internal member: 
  Supervisor (Administrator of committee): 
  Co-supervisor (observer in committee):

At least 7 weeks before defence (...  ): 
- The 1st and 2nd opponents should prepare a 1-2 page written statement 
  on the thesis. 
- Foreign opponents should say something about the level of the
  thesis compared to a typical doctoral thesis in their own country.
- Any comments or suggestions for changes in the thesis should
  be submitted  (preferably earlier)

At least 5 weeks before the defence:
- Committee as a whole  must formally decide whether the thesis
  is "worth defending", and decide on a title for the given lecture.

Day of defence:

  10.15-11.00: Lecture on given subject by candidate 
  11.00: Meet again to: 1.  Evaluate lecture.  
						2. Preliminary discusson of thesis.
    I will have prepared a draft based on the brief written statements 
	from the committee members, but the committee is of course free
	to modify this.
  12.00: Lunch 
  13.15-about 16.00: Thesis defence

   -The candiate first gives an overview of the thesis (about 30 min, max 45 min.)

   - Then 1st opponent takes the floor to give his assessment of
     the work (about 10 min):
	* Place the work in a broader perspective
	* Point out the major contributions
	* Compare the level with Ph.D. degree in his/her country
	* Other evaluations
     After this the candiate is given the opportunity to comment/reply and 
     the 1st opponent asks the candiate more general questions
     about the work (a kind of dialogue) (another 10-30 min).

    - We may then have a break (5 min)

    - Then the 2nd opponent gives his/her general impressions and ask 
      some general questions (similar to above). 
     If he /she comes from industry or has somehow a different background,
     then the 2nd opponent should concentrate on areas closer to his/her
     expertise. Otherwise, there is no real difference between the
	 two opponents or in the way they act during the defence.

    - The internal committee member may in some cases give his/her
      general impressions, but this is not required
     
    - After this the committee as a whole is given the oppurtunity to
	ask any specific questions that were missed earlier (5-50 min).
     (or more if it is necessary, there is no set maximum time). 

    - Finally the audience is allowed to ask questions (usually noone
     asks).

  about 15.30-17.00: Committee meets to evaluate thesis (Final Report)
    For practical reasons we may have to sign the report in blanco. We
    also need to sign the thesis itself.

  about 19.00: Thesis dinner. Committee members invited
               (with spouse, "med folge")


EVALUATION OF GIVEN LECTURE
(which should be outside the subject area of the thesis)
Some relevant issues:
  1. Selection of material (scope)
  2. Structure/order  of presentation 
  3. Understanding
  4. Presentation itself including use of visual aids.

EVALUATION OF THESIS
Some relevant issues:
1. Short description of contents/scope
2. Contributions
3. Possible strong points and weaknesses
4. Comments on performance during defence 

   As mentioned earlier, the international members of the committee are 
   asked to evaluate the thesis compared to doctoral thesise in their 
   own country.

Payment: 1st and 2nd opponent get paid about NOK 5000 (about USD  700)

Travel and hotel reimbursement: 
 - 1st opponent is reimbursed travel and local 
   expenses from the Faculty of Chem.Eng. up to NOK 10000 (about USD 1400).
 - The 2nd opponent is usually from Norway and in this case it is hoped that 
   he/she somehow will be able to get paid for travel elsewhere. If this is 
   not the case then we will provide funds.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Best regards,