In early January I submitted my PhD thesis (Greenflame » Submission) for examination, and then a couple of weeks ago (May 21) I had my oral defence of the thesis: Transhumanism and the imago Dei : Narratives of apprehension and hope. For the oral I met with my examination panel (The two NZ markers in person, and the US marker via written questions) and a chairperson to defend my thesis. A pretty traumatic experience of just over two hours, though good to be able to address the examiners in person and respond to their criticisms and comment. I’d have hated just getting the examiners’ reports in the mail and not getting the critique nuanced by interaction in person.

Yesterday I received the confirmation letter from the University of Auckland stating officially that the examiners had recommended my thesis favourably and that, pending some minor modifications, I can submit the final copies to the university (within three months) and then graduate with my PhD.

So all the hard work is done, I’ve passed the final examination, and now just need to “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” in a few places and get on with the rest of my life. The feeling gets better every day.

Left: Newman Hall, home to the Catholic Institute of Theology, and site of oral defence trauma.

Right: The Fisher Building (next door to Newman Hall), site of the School of Theology.

Photos taken before the oral, which was a good thing, as I wasn’t in the mood to take any at the end of it.