This blog entry diverges a little from most of those written before, in these we have tried to portray the scientific challenges facing the EGSIEM project. But I would like to now highlight another aspect of academic life, the subject matter of which is also linked to the aims of the EGSIEM project.
The conferring of degrees by institutions around the world represents a cornucopia of rules, traditions and regulations. Recently, I was invited (along with Frank Flechtner from our partner GFZ) to Delft University of Technology to participate on an examination committee for a “Waarde promovendus” (or ‘worthy doctoral candidate’) who would be assisted by up to two “paranymphs” (supporters). There is something a little ‘Harry Potter’ about many of these ceremonies and Delft is no exception as you can see from the picture below.
Before the ceremony I was grateful to receive a guide, this contained much information on the logistics of the ceremony and my own role, when I was expected to intervene and the forms of address - most useful when your Dutch is not as good as it could be! For me, however, the most amusing aspect was the section on academic dress which proscribed not only the correct gown and headwear, but also specified correct shoe colour, the section concluded with the following warning:
The beadle will ensure that the clothing is worn appropriately and in a manner that befits the dignity of an academic ceremony.
Such occasions can seem a little old fashioned but it is important to confer degrees in a public environment and the structure ensures an equal prominence to everyone who has worked hard enough to receive a doctorate, I am just glad that my own doctoral ceremony at the University of Bern in Switzerland was undertaken without the need for the Beadle to intervene.
I am delighted to report that the candidate (João Gregório de Texeira da Encarnação) was successful in presenting his thesis Next-generation satellite gravimetry for measuring mass transport in the Earth system. In view of the upcoming GRACE-FO mission and future planned gravity mission this is currently a topic of great interest, also in the frame of the EGSIEM project.
