Each student will present a seminar to introduce and defend their thesis. Each seminar will generally be followed by questions first from your supervisor who will attempt to identify your achievements and then from the staff members and students. Your seminar must last for 30 minutes (including 5 minutes for questions). This seminar provides an opportunity to think about what you have accomplished, and to react to comments and suggestions made in the final thesis.
A brief introduction providing the context of the research will be necessary, placing the topic in a somewhat broader frame and identifying the questions which are being addressed. If appropriate, a short description of previous techniques employed in the field and major results to date should follow. However, most of the time should be devoted to presentation of your own research and results, and discussion of their interpretation, significance, and limitations in the light of the questions originally posed. Finally, you should draw some conclusions from your work and provide an indication of avenues for further research.
It is important that you restrict yourself to the allocated time. A scientist who cannot synthesise his/her results and present them within a prescribed period of time does not show full confidence in the subject. It is up to you to select what information is worthy of inclusion in your oral seminar and what information should be left out. Remember that visual aids are always helpful in seminars. A practice run is very strongly recommended.
Just as is the case for the first seminars, all students are required to be present during all the final seminars.