Today at noon Swami made the transition to Dr. Swaminathan Sivasubramanian at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In most European countries the doctoral defense (promotie in Dutch) goes with a lot of protocol and pomp & circumstance. A very specific dress code, with two secundants who need to be able to take over in case you faint during the defense. Your thesis committee, who are called "opponents", will try to make you a sweat a little. Even though it is mostly ceremonial I remember being nervous as hell when I had to defend my thesis; it is a lot more fun to watch than when you have to go through it yourself. Swami did well.

More pictures when I am back in Seattle.