"Publications and Presentations": what do they mean by presentations?

[nonequilibrium]

I'm filling out a grad application to Berkeley, and one of the forms has the title "Publications and Presentations" and asks

Provide a list of publications or presentations related to your academic or professional background. You may type your information or upload a pdf document.

I have no publications and I haven't given presentations in the context of a conference or the like, so it seems reasonable to leave this blank.

However "presentations" sounds vague. For example, what about

1) Talks I've given? For example in student seminars?
2) Defenses of (bachelors/masters) projects?

Would it make sense to mention those instead of leaving it blank?

 

[Choppy]

If it's not spelled out in the application, I would contact the graduate department and ask for clarification.

Generally conference presentations are published in proceedings or special editions of particular journals, so it's generally straight forward to pick out the peer-reviewed work from the non-peer reviewed stuff. Non-peer reviewed stuff may or may not be given weight, depending on how the particular department sees things.

 

[nonequilibrium]

Thank you Choppy. I contacted the department and this was their reply (which might be useful for others who stumble upon my question in the future):

By presentations, we mean talks or poster at conferences, symposiums or professional meetings. However, you will not be penalized if you choose to include class or seminar presentations.

 

[mfb]

I think I would include the best available things - still better than leaving it blank. For a grad school application, conference talks are probably rare.
My experience is limited to particle physics, I don't know how it is elsewhere - as a PhD student, you typically get one or two talks at relevant conferences. Going to an international conference before you start your PhD thesis is quite rare.

 

[Matrix0]

In the context of academic applications, "presentations" typically refers to talks or speeches given at conferences, symposiums, or other professional events. These presentations are often based on research or projects that the individual has worked on and are meant to share their findings or ideas with their peers in the field.

In regards to your question about talks given in student seminars or defenses of projects, it would be appropriate to include those in your list of presentations if they are relevant to your academic or professional background. However, it is not necessary to include them if you do not feel they add value to your application.

It is important to be honest and accurate in your application, so if you do not have any publications or presentations to list, it is perfectly acceptable to leave that section blank. Admissions committees understand that not all applicants will have a long list of publications and presentations, especially at the graduate level. Focus on highlighting your strengths and experiences in other areas of your application.