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Designing & Presenting Research Posters. Deborah Faupel, Grants Center 5/8/12. What Is a Research Poster?. A visual tool for communicating your work A well-executed poster will: Draw visitors towards you and your poster Engage visitors in conversation
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Designing & Presenting Research Posters Deborah Faupel, Grants Center 5/8/12
What Is a Research Poster? • A visual tool for communicating your work • A well-executed poster will: • Draw visitors towards you and your poster • Engage visitors in conversation • Clearly communicate your main points to your audience, both in your field and not in your field of research
Purpose of a Poster • Source of information • Conversation starter • Summary of your work • Advertisement of your work
The goal of a research poster is to present an organized visual display of your research project and findings
Elements of a Good Poster • Self-explanatory • Organized • Concise • Avoid long paragraphs • Use bullets whenever possible
Evaluation of Posters • Physical appearance and organization • Research content • Overall effectiveness • Speaking ability of presenter(s) • Ability of presenter(s) to explain and answer questions
Tips for Effective Poster Presentations • Why does your research matter? • Is your information clearly organized? • Is the overall appearance visually appealing? • Colors, text, graphics • Did you minimize the amount of text? • Did you use appropriate graphics? • Did you sketch your poster layout on paper first?
Need To Do • Prepare a 2-3 minute verbal explanation that highlights the significance of your research • Prepare a summary handout which is a miniature version of your poster, and include contact information
Design Guidelines • Text size should be readable from 4-6 feet. • Don’t overdo your use of color. Stick with 2-3 colors. • Avoid very bright neon colors. • Dark letters on light background are easiest to read. • Use bolding so text is easier to see. • Don’t make it difficult for your readers to find your sections – people read from top to bottom, left to right.
Design Guidelines • Choose a sans-serif font like Helvetica or Verdana, not a serif font, like Times New Roman. • Do not use a monospace font like Courier, where every letter has the same width. • Once you have chosen a font, keep it consistent. • AVOID USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. IT CAN BE HARD TO READ.
Design Guidelines • Use 1.5- or double-spacing to make the text easier to read. • For main points: • Use bold, italicized, or colored fonts, or enclose text in boxes. • Make your main points easy to find by setting them off with bullets.
Poster Elements • Title • Author(s) and Institution(s) • Introduction • Hypothesis or Approach • Methods • Results • Graphics (figures, photos, graphs, tables) • Discussion and Conclusions • Summary • Future Directions • Acknowledgements
Poster Elements (Continued) • Optional elements • Abstract • References • Ask your mentor about his/her preferences • Ask to see examples from your group
Title • Brief and descriptive • Identical to abstract title • Readable from a 20-foot distance • Use a sans-serif font - Do not use a serif font • Use a 72 point font or larger This is a 72point font.
Author(s) & Institution(s) • First name should be the presenter • Additional authors should be listed in order of their contribution • Last name should be the faculty mentor • Include department(s) and institution(s) below the authors’ names
Abstract • If included, abstract should be identical to the one submitted for the conference
Introduction • Only present what is needed for the reader to understand the poster • Begin with a general introduction to the field • Be brief, but do not omit important points • Use 20 point font or larger This is a 20 point font.
Hypothesis or Approach • State hypothesis/problem based on the background • Include a diagram or model to help explain • Briefly state approach to solving the problem • Do not provide details about methods
Methods • Briefly describe data gathering process • Include key details • Describe any internally developed procedures
Results • Briefly describe any analysis • Include the most important results to date • Present data in graphical form when possible or use bullets
Figures • Present data to support or deny your hypothesis • Number your figures with a font larger than 20 point • Figures include graphs, photos, illustrations, or diagrams • Figures need a title and a legend • Figures need to be of high quality/high resolution
Graphics • Use graphics that enhance/complement your work • Use only high quality • Use photos from public domain or acknowledge your source • Do not use low resolution pictures or too-cute clipart • Do not use background graphics that compete with your text
Conclusions • Use bullets • Be concise • Present any alternate explanations for your data or unexpected results
Future Directions • What do you plan on doing next? • Do you plan on using new methods? • Do you still have unanswered questions?
References • If used, cite all references in the poster text. • Use a reference style from a major journal in your discipline.
Acknowledgements • If used, acknowledge those who assisted or contributed to your research. • Include sources that funded your research project. • This work is funded by NSF Grant #PHY-0757999. • Use the ERAU logo & logos for funding sources if applicable.
Steps in Poster Design • Prepare text for each section • Select graphics • Sketch layout on paper • 3 or 4 panel design is typical
Create Poster in PowerPoint • Start with a template or create from scratch. • Set slide to specified size (30” x 40”). • Design Page Setup • Use landscape orientation. • Zoom in/out to lay out poster. • Use text boxes for titles and text. • Insert figures and graphics. • Create tables directly in PPT or import file.
Proofreading Your Poster • Check for grammatical, spelling or layout errors. • Check numbering of all figures. • “Justify” text - Align text to both left and right margins for a clean look on both margins. • Ask someone else to proofread it. • Review with your mentor BEFORE printing. • Send to all your co-authors BEFORE printing.
Presenting Your Poster • Dress professionally. • Make eye contact and smile. • Greet visitors and give them time to review your poster BEFORE you start talking. • Be prepared to tell them about your research. • Present a 2-3 minute overview.
Presenting Your Poster Tip • AFTER giving your visitor 1-2 minutes to look over your poster, ask them: “Would you like me to walk you through the poster briefly?” This is more effective than asking them if they have any questions.
More Presenting Your Poster • Be positive, charming and professional. • Don’t spend too much time with one person. • If you don’t know an answer, don’t make it up. • Distribute your handout covering key points with your contact information.
Printing Your Poster • Contact the Copy Center (Ext. 6690). • Posters can be laminated or non-laminated. • Pricing is the same for 2-color or more, but try to stick with no more than 3 colors.
How to Take Care of Your Poster • Laminate your poster or buy a poster tube for storage. • Roll it up carefully and secure with a rubber band. • Handle with care. • Store in a safe place.