Luz is presenting her high-pressure Ph.D. defense in 30 minutes where only the jury and to few members of the public are present. Unlike the tradition in Mexico, a general audience of student friends and family were not present.

Luz-Estela Gonzalez de Bashan, Vice-President of The Bashan Foundation, successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada on 24 May 2006.

Luz is the daughter of a retired civil engineer in Bogota, Colombia. Luz also started her professional training as a civil engineer, but switched to biology. She investigates the use of microscopic organisms to treat and use wastewater and eroded soils.

Although several members of her extended family in Colombia, Canada, and the USA are pursuing professional careers, she is the first one to be awarded a Ph.D. degree.

Currently, Luz is involved in water and soil bioremediation research programs in arid environments with her students at CIBNOR, B.C.S., Mexico and serves as the technical administrative supervisor of the laboratories of the Environmental Microbiology Group at CIBNOR. Her plans are to concentrate on research and teaching.

A major part of the doctoral thesis defense is answering tough and not-so-tough questions raised by the external jurors. The opinion of thesis advisors has little impact under the protocol at Laval University. Her defense was unanimously rated as “Excellent.”

Luz with the jurors at a reception held in her honor at Laval University. From the right: Prof. Hani Antoun, (Director of thesis, Laval University), Dr. Danielle Prevost, (external examiner from Agriculture-Canada, St. Foy, Quebec), Dr. Horst Vierheilig, (external examiner from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria), Luz, Dr. Yoav Bashan (In-residence co-director of thesis, CIBNOR, Mexico), Dr. Patrice Dion (external examiner, Laval University). Dr. Antoin Karem of Laval University (President of the jury) is absent. Although the Champaign was completely consumed, three surplus bottles of French wine made it back to Mexico.

Luz with the director of her thesis, Dr. Hani Antoun of Laval University, minutes after she “dropped” the designation of student, possibly forever.

Luz with two of the jurors, Dr. Horst Vierhelig from Austria (right) and Dr. Patrice Dion of Laval University (left). Even if Luz wears her highest heels, she is still short by about half a meter.

Because Luz is not a resident of Quebec and is unknown in Laval University social life, the real graduation celebration occurred a week later with friends in Luz’s garden palapa (shelter with a roof of palm fronds). Her family in Colombia received only photographs. Toasting with Champaign are her friends, Dr. Rosalia Servin, and Rosalia’s husband Dr. Francisco Magallon. He graduated the same day as Luz, but in Havana, Cuba. The homemade food was delicious, spirits were good, and the music was Latin. Fiesta!

A giant greeting card was presented to Luz by her friend, Susan Fogel (not in the photo). On the card everyone at the party wrote their best wishes to Luz. Unfortunately, framing the card is beyond the capacity of the local frame shops.

A fiesta without dancing is hardly possible in Mexico. Even Luz, who does not usually dance, took the stage like everyone else. Alvaro and Yanet, Colombian students in our research group are seen here moving to the rhythms, but every one moved…