How to attend my Ph.D. defense

The best thesis defense is a good thesis offense
Don’t worry, you’ll be safe at my defense. Just don’t ask any hard questions at the end. Credit: XKCD.
  • What: My Ph.D. defense on Antarctic sea ice, snow, and ocean physics
  • When: Wednesday, December 4 from 3:30-4:30p PT
  • (Optional!) celebration: My talk will be followed by a closed-door exam from approximately 4:30-5:30p (feel free to hang out while this happens if you’re staying—see below), then a casual celebration with refreshments around 5:30-6p (but potentially a bit earlier or later)
  • Where (virtual): Zoom (link here)
  • Where (in person): Ocean Sciences Building (OCN) 425 at the University of Washington

If you are reading this, please know that I appreciate you even if you can’t attend! If you can make it, no need to RSVP. I will not be checking my email much until after Wednesday, in any case.

Feel free to text me at 224-388-0301 with any questions. If you contact me on Wednesday, I might not see your message, but my partner Pin-An will be monitoring her texts and can help. Her number is 734-623-3830.

How to get there

Ocean Sciences Building (OCN) is located on the south waterfront of UW’s campus (map). Entrances are on NE Boat St and should be unlocked until 5p. You can take the elevator to the 4th floor and OCN 425 (the Richard Fleming Conference Room) will be through the two doors on the right. If you take the stairs, the room is straight ahead.

  • For those biking: The building is just south of the Burke-Gilman Trail and there are ample bike racks next to both entrances.
  • For those taking transit: The building is a 13 min and 15 min walk from the UW (Husky Stadium) and U-District light rail stations, respectively. A number of bus lines also stop nearby on NE Pacific St.
  • For those driving: I would recommend using paid street parking along University Way, north of NE Pacific St. You can also purchase a visitor permit at the South Gatehouse (map), right next to the building, and park in the small UW lot just south of the gatehouse, but this is rather expensive (rates here).

What to expect

The talk: My defense will be an approximately 50-minute talk that summarizes two out of the four chapters of my dissertation. It will be aimed at an oceanographic audience, so there will be plenty of scientific jargon, but I will do my best to keep things as accessible as possible. There will be some equations but also colorful images, so it should balance out. Know that most people in the room will not be sea ice or snow experts either!

Seating: The conference room fills up quickly, so arriving 5 minutes early will ensure a seat. It’s totally okay to stand in the back.

Question time: The talk will be followed by around 10 minutes of audience questions about the science. You are welcome to raise your hand and ask one! There’s no such thing as a bad question—and you might just save me from the dreaded unanswerable question that someone else was about to ask.

Afterwards: After my talk, the audience will leave the room. My committee members and I will move into a closed-door exam session, which can last from anywhere between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours (but usually about 1 hour). I might have a few seconds to say hello to you after my talk, but unfortunately not much more. I will completely understand if you have to leave at that point!

If you are staying for the celebration, feel free to hang out on the couches and chairs outside the room. There is a similar area on the 3rd floor. UW has a guest wifi network available if you want to work (but my parents will be there and may chat you up—consider yourself warned!). You can also walk across the street to the excellent bakery and cafe, Saint Bread, which has heated outdoor seating. Be aware that the building doors lock at 5p, though it shouldn’t hard to get back in with folks starting to leave the holiday party around that time (see below).

(Hopeful) celebration: If my defense is successful, I will emerge from the room a doctor around 5:30p and there will be a small, casual celebration by the couches on the 4th floor. There will probably be light refreshments (you are welcome to bring anything, but don’t feel obligated!) and a ceremonial champagne pop, and I’ll sign a wall where the cork hits.

Department holiday party: Our department’s annual holiday party is conveniently scheduled for 4-6p on the 1st floor of the building in the High Bay (enter through the swinging doors by the elevators). I have confirmed that you – as my guest – are welcome to grab a plate of the delicious catered food (if anyone asks, which they won’t, tell them Michelle said it was okay). There should be a lot of food, so don’t feel bad. You could do this while waiting for the celebration.