How to prepare for thesis defense or viva? - After thesis (May/12/2007 )
Hello guys,
It is me again. 
Since I am done with my thesis, I have to prepare for thesis defense or some called it viva. (By the way, where does the word viva comes from?) I would like to hear from you guys about how to prepare for it etc.
My supervisor said they might actually ask about recent research or hot research topics. I really have no idea about it. And also, do I have to bring my thesis along? Do I have to give out handouts?
I really have no idea about it. My first time preparing for this.
Hope to hear from you guys soon. 
hello timjim 
wish you all the best...
our supervisor told us that she didn't know why it was called "defense"
untill she discussed her thesis with doctors...!!!!
she said that even YOUR doctor will start asking you questions and
put you in nervous situation...
so be confident with yourself and your abilities...
i really don't know what are the things you should take with you...
wish you luck
Don´t know, if the procedure is the same in 3°8′00″N101°42′00″E (KUALA LUMPUR???):
- Talk to your examiner about your work and their field of science in the next days. We´ve got some informations about intersections and good points for a defense. Maybe you receive some actuall papers about their work and interrest...
- no handout, we need a 30 min talk about the thesis, ask if you are allowed to use a power point presentation or if it is a so called blackboard-tlak, here you will have 30 min prior your defense to prepear it....
- You should be familiar with your thesis, the techniques you used, state of the art techniques to validate your work
- Be prepeared for one question from every chairman belonging to your thesis and a second round with transfer-questions
But, best way is to ask some postdocs or the last Phds for their defense...
ms-olli
Thanks nightingale. Even my supervisor? Please don't. I have two 'tough' examiners. I don't need an additional one to question me. Thanks for the luck by the way.
ms-olli, 
you are smart! I am in Kuala Lumpur. I think there will be power point presentation. I don't think I will approach my examiners because one of them is pretty strict. He might just shoo me away. A friend of mine went to see him before and he told her this "Isn't it inappropriate to consult me since I am your examiner?"
I hope he will be ok to me during the defense.
you are welcome timjim
i know it is hard timjim...
but you can do it
I am Swedish, we may have a slightly different way of defending our thesis. I checked up on my "Opponent/examination committee) before going up. Usually they are people that knows something about your field of research. Say that you topic is signal transduction in endothelial cells, then some of the guys is probably selected because he is an expert in signaling and some other guy is good at endothelial cells... Checking and reading their publications should give you a hint concerning their opinions on your topic and you could quite well predict the questions (at least roughly). I had a pharmaceutical guy, a cell biologist, a sports physiologist and a MD so that was a bit of reading... 
Thanks for the support!
Will do my best....