Lincoln University's third annual PhD Dinner was held as usual on the evening before Graduation Day. Twenty—five PhD graduands attended the function in Te Kete lka, accompanied by family members and friends. For the new Director of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Charles Brennan, who has succeeded long—serving Director Professor Ken Hughey in the role. Postgraduate Team Leader Bernadette Mani of Student Administration led the procession of graduands into the dining hall, before the start of the formal proceedings. Speaking to the graduands, Professor Pollard said that PhDs brought immense credit to their university. He also said that the process of hard work and study that leads to a PhD was very demanding on families and he thanked family members for the support they gave candidates. It was a point picked up by the principal speaker for the evening, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences Professor Bruce McKenzie, who said his wife claimed that his own PhD should be half hers. Professor McKenzie told the graduands that their Lincoln PhD was the “key to your future”. A Lincoln PhD would enable them to work almost anywhere in the world, he said.