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scampster
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« on: November 14, 2009, 02:46:27 PM » |
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Instead of actually writing my defense talk, I am pondering the weighty question of refreshments for my committee.
My defense is at 9am on Tuesday. This naturally makes me think I should bring breakfasty type snacks and coffee.
There is the public part of the defense first and then the private part and it is all in the same room. The culture in my department is such that the public parts are not really attended by anyone but the committee and maybe a few other grad students - it's held in a conference room, so there isn't even much space.
So here is my dilemma. If it was just my committee, I'd go to the yummy bakery and get some croissants or something at least a little nicer than a multipack of donuts or tasteless mini-muffins from the grocery store.
But I actually don't know how many extra people will be at my defense - should I assume that I need to bring snacks for everyone? I'm not trying to bribe everyone, just my committee. And everyone else doesn't have to sit there for another hour or two after the presentation.
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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crowie
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« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2009, 03:11:21 PM » |
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Bring yummy croissants for the faculty AND the packaged donuts for everyone else. Make it clear what is for whom by putting the croissants on a separate plate at the end of the table where the committee is sitting. Put the packaged donuts wherever the grad students sit, or ask the first student who comes to pass it around so it is clear that it's 'theirs'
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sweetcider
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« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2009, 04:46:57 PM » |
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At the defense talk's I've attended, the grad students eat far more food (per person) than the faculty. Also, my advisor would undermind crowie's stratagy by passing the box of croissants around the room to the grad students (possible before other faculty arrive). Also, if it's normal in the department culture to have food, the grad students might not pick up on the subtle distinction.
I'd make an estimate of the number of people likely to come and then compromise. Get a box of croissants or muffins from the grocery store bakery, but cut them in half to make smaller portions.
I'm sure you know your department culture around this issue, but be careful if you have a committee member from another department. A friend had snacks and invited a lot of friends and family to his defense which was normal in his department. But an influential committee member was from another department; he walked into the room and saw lots of strange people and food and was not pleased. He interpreted the food/people as a premature celebration. It worked out find. (Yes, my friend passed.) But, it was awkward for all involved.
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Exactly! Well-stated, sweetcider.
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mozman
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« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2009, 09:07:33 PM » |
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Spouse cooked homemade cream scones for my defense.
Perfect breakfast-y food for this scenario. They are awesome tasting, and deceptively filling (made with heavy cream) - committee members go into food coma.
mm
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Could you grow the foot into another patient? I mean, you are a scientist.
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clean
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« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2009, 09:07:53 PM » |
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Is it common to bring bribes snacks?
It was not when I was a PhD student (in the dark ages). Besides, I was too poor to bring food for me, much less people that makes multiples of my graduate student stipend.
I did bake a cake for each committee member and had it delivered on the first anniversary of my defense. But by then I was eating regularly myself.
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"The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" Darth Vader
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prof_smartypants
Treasure-pilferin' and grog-swillin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,077
Kiss the baby!
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« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2009, 09:11:18 PM » |
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I went to the local Einstein's and picked up a dozen bagels and a jug of coffee. It gave me something to concentrate on (laying out the bagels, making sure there were enough creamers) than the eminent defense!
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Welcome to college, motherf*cker.
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sciencephd
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« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2009, 09:13:56 PM » |
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Alice B. Toklas brownies.
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I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
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skinnymargarita
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« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2009, 09:14:34 PM » |
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The better the snacks, the more you are bribing the committee.
That said, to he11 with what people think. Get the croissants, brie and raspberry jelly. A pot of coffee or tea and some waters. Maybe some trail mix. Keep it simple, they really don't eat much. Do not sweat over the snacks. Think a lot more about your results, the application of your results on a national level, the whole process.
Above all, don't sweat it. Keep your cool. You have made it this far. You have made it! Congrat's! It is a great day for you.
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prof_smartypants
Treasure-pilferin' and grog-swillin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,077
Kiss the baby!
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« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2009, 09:17:44 PM » |
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I went to the local Einstein's and picked up a dozen bagels and a jug of coffee. It gave me something to concentrate on (laying out the bagels, making sure there were enough creamers) than the eminent defense!
Imminent. Time for bed. |
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Welcome to college, motherf*cker.
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scampster
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« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2009, 09:26:30 PM » |
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Spouse cooked homemade cream scones for my defense.
Perfect breakfast-y food for this scenario. They are awesome tasting, and deceptively filling (made with heavy cream) - committee members go into food coma.
mm
Do you hire her out?
Alice B. Toklas brownies.
This would be ideal for distraction. And funny. People usually bring food to defenses in my department, so it is actually the norm. I don't think you'll get failed if you don't, but I don't want to be the first to find out! I brought food to my preliminary exam as well. I like Prof_SP idea of bagels. They can be split easily and dozen split bagels would cover it I think and won't break the bank. I'm not really stressing about it, but I was envisioning a scenario like sweetcider described where I brought food for my committee that was then devoured by the grad students. We're a shifty bunch with well honed free food radars. |
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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punchnpie
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« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2009, 09:53:53 PM » |
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We were a very food-oriented program. We got/gave food for everything, but for defenses, just the committee gets to eat. Don't worry about feeding everyone.
Scamp - I'm so happy for you and wish you a pleasant and easy defense (kinda like a heavily medicated childbirth).
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What about all them other professors – ain’t they your kin? Good God, no. I loathe them and they loathe me. – Sunset Limited
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scampster
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« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2009, 09:55:45 PM » |
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We were a very food-oriented program. We got/gave food for everything, but for defenses, just the committee gets to eat. Don't worry about feeding everyone.
Scamp - I'm so happy for you and wish you a pleasant and easy defense (kinda like a heavily medicated childbirth).
Does that mean I should be heavily medicated or that I should slip something into the coffee so that my committee is heavily medicated? I guess the brownies would have the same effect... |
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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ls410
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« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2009, 09:04:39 AM » |
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I hired out my snacks too: good friend in the department made coffee and brought cups, cream, sugar. My mom made her amazing sugar cookies (they are Cookie Monster's recipe from Seaseme Street) and mailed them. I had plenty for the committee, the public attendees, and me to eat while waiting for the news.
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punchnpie
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« Reply #13 on: November 15, 2009, 10:45:05 AM » |
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We generally knew we were going to pass if they let us defend. It was kinda hard to hide the committees' intentions when students are lugging boxes of champagne from the prof's car!
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What about all them other professors – ain’t they your kin? Good God, no. I loathe them and they loathe me. – Sunset Limited
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galactic_hedgehog
Procrastinating, Python-quoting, Blue Blazer-drinking, chocolate-chip cookie-eating, Pastafarian, Not So
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 18,564
Mind Ninja
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« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2009, 10:47:10 AM » |
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That's another question: who supplies the booze? In my program, it was the dissertation advisor.
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Your professors were probably afraid of your galactic genius and did everything they could (behind the scenes) to thwart your hedginess. Hedgie loves to read. |
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