The ceremony takes place on the ground floor of Eden, and colleagues and friends gathered to witness the event. Following the ceremony, guests enjoy refreshments in the Political Science department’s “Skybar.”
Spikning is a academic tradition that signals a thesis is complete and ready for public scrutiny ahead of the defense. The practice dates back centuries, when scholars literally hammered a nail through their printed thesis and posted it on a university notice board. This symbolic act ensured openness and gave the academic community a chance to review the work before the disputation. While today’s process is largely digital, many universities—including Lund—preserve the ceremonial aspect as a festive occasion.
Joel Abdelmoez will defend his PhD thesis, Time, Difference, and the Transnational. Feminist Activism and Solidarities in Egypt and Tunisia, on December 19, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. at Eden, Lund.
Read the dissertation here (link to Lund University Research Portal).
