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It's fascinating how academic rituals differ from one field to another. Today's example: I'm at a french HDR defense in philosophy. The candidate is facing the jury, who is in turn facing the public. Hence the candidate is *not* facing the public. Much more like an exam than a lectio magistralis.
In computer science it is the opposite: the jury sits with the audience, on the first row; the candidate faces both. Hence it feels much more like a traditional lecture, even if it's an exam.
@zacchiro Fascinating indeed, thanks for sharing! :)
@zacchiro Both options seem pretty intimidating lol
@zacchiro interesting. Computer science in Germany: jury and audience sit around the same large conference table, presenter at the head of the table, basically lecture style. The only nod to the jury being the jury: they get to ask questions first, before the floor is opened to the wider audience (which never has questions anyway or maybe some softball ones, because the presenter might sit in the audience when the time comes for the other's defense 
)
@namenlos oh, thanks for raising this, because it is indeed another difference I've noticed within France.
In computer science here it is exactly as you mentioned. Only small difference is that only people in the audience with a HDR are allowed to ask questions, mimicking what happens for PhD theses (where only doctors are allowed).
In philosophy, apparently, only jury members ask questions. People in the audience cannot.
@zacchiro interesting. Here everybody can ask questions. In the end, the jury will decide the grade obviously, but if, say, my wife would've liked to ask a question, she could've. She didn't need to, though, she had to endure 10 or so times, me giving her the talk to practice. She could've given it herself by that time
