The course is centered around five doctoral defenses in the area of risk, safety and crisis management. Before each doctoral defense, the students will critically read the dissertation to be defended and prepare questions that the student would want to ask the candidate defending, as if the student were the opponent or a member of the examination committee. The critical review can for example be based on the components of doctorateness presented in Trafford and Leshem (2009).
The individual reading is followed by a preparatory seminar, in which the doctoral students and at least one senior researcher critically discuss the dissertation and the questions each doctoral student has prepared.
The next part of the course involves attending the doctoral defense (in person or through Zoom), and especially paying attention to what questions were asked by the opponent and the examination committee.
Following the defense, the doctoral students will write a short individual reflection (1-2 pages) on the strengths and weaknesses of the dissertation, what the student has learned from the sessions and what could be relevant to bring into his/her doctoral thesis.
