So an E-Thesis It Will Be

By the time I get ready to defend my own doctoral thesis in a few years (if all goes according to plan!), the e-thesis will be mandatory at all Canadian universities, and e-defenses will be common here on Memorial’s campus. The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is leading the way in utilizing technology to the fullest degree, changing theses from paper-based to electronic; increasing the number of e-defenses. The switch to e-theses will cut down on printing and shipping costs, and also get research into the public domain a lot faster, according to C. Dean Barnes, programs coordinator with SGS. E-thesis development is to start in the fall of this year, and go live in winter 2012. By 2014, e-theses will be mandatory at all Canadian universities. It is also expected that by May 2011, the majority of oral defenses will be conducted via webcast, with examiners off campus being able to e-attend as opposed to being flown in from out-of-province. More information on these initiatives can be found here.