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When the Laurenskerk clock strikes the hour, the statue of Erasmus turns the page. Nobody has ever seen this happen because Erasmus only performs the trick when no-one is looking. An extraordinary story about an extraordinary scholar, rendering it a great symbol for the most extraordinary thesis. The Erasmus Thesis Award is a 3D replica made of crystal. And just like the original statue, Erasmus turns the page on the hour.

Optima produces a large number of theses and each year there are several highly unusual specimens among them. We derive a great deal of pleasure from these, but even our customers like looking at the unusual specimens and listening to the stories behind them. We want to share this pleasure with one and all. The Erasmus Thesis Award allows us to provide a platform for all the extraordinary theses, because there are some every year. And each year we present the magnificent Erasmus Thesis Award for the most extraordinary thesis.

What makes a thesis extraordinary? This could be anything, and that is precisely what makes this Award such a hoot. It could be a cover conspicuous for its beauty, or it could just be content that runs against the nap of all norms and values. It could also be the story behind the cover; some covers contain a healthy portion of humour, be this overt or covert. Nonetheless, the content of a thesis can also make the difference too, of course. It could be a study that nobody can make head nor tail of (Optima has a few of these in its filing cabinets) or just a study on tossing coins (Optima has a few of these too). Or what about a neurologist completing his PhD on... Japanese lacquer ware? So it could be a bizarre combination, an unprecedented brilliant study, research of considerable significance to society, or just a study that few people see the use of. But it could also be a 100-year-old passing his PhD or somebody that has managed to earn his doctoral degree in spite of serious illness. In other words, there are no limits when it comes to eligibility for the Erasmus Thesis Award. There is only one criterion: it must be extraordinary!

Anyone can take part and anyone is allowed to take part. Send a photo or pdf of your thesis and a Word document containing a brief explanation (max. 250 words) to account@ogc.nl

Optima will place all submissions online.

All theses produced in 2011 can be submitted (therefore the date of graduation does not have to be in 2011). Submissions received prior to 1 January 2012 are eligible for the Erasmus Thesis Award 2011.

The winner will be announced and the Award presented during the first quarter of 2012. The panel of judges will comprise the various PhD organizations, such as LEO, EPAR, PON and Promood. Each PhD organization will select its own top 5 (the way in which the top 5 is selected is down to the executive committee; as executive committee they can decide independently, but they could also put it to their members). At the end of January 2012, each committee will provide Optima with its top 5.  Scoring a first place will earn 5 points, a second place earns 4 points, a third place 3 points, etc.
A] The thesis with the most points will be the winner of the Erasmus Thesis Award.
B] In the event of a tie, the thesis with the most first places will win. If this still results in a tie, the thesis with the most second places will win, etc.

If after applying steps A and B there is still a draw situation between two theses, Optima will proceed to present 2 awards.