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The Poster Presentation

Printed Page 258

A poster presentation includes information about a study, an issue, or a concept displayed concisely and visually on a large (roughly 4 feet high by 6 feet wide) poster. Usually, poster presentations follow the structure of a scientific journal article, which includes an abstract, an introduction, a description of methods, a results section, a conclusion, and references (if applicable); see p. 261. Presenters display their key findings on posters, arranged so session participants can examine them freely; on hand are copies of the written report, with full details of the study.

A good poster presenter considers his or her audience, understanding that with so much competing information, the poster must be concise, visually appealing, and restricted to the most important points of the study. Different disciplines (e.g., geology vs. sociology) require unique poster formats, so be sure that you follow the guidelines specific to the discipline.

When preparing the poster:

Select a concise and informative title; make it 84-point type or larger.
Include an abstract (a brief summary of the study) describing the essence of the report and how it relates to other research in the field. Offer compelling and “must know” points to hook viewers and summarize information for those who will only read the abstract.
Ensure a logical and easy-to-follow flow from one part of the poster to another.
Ruthlessly edit text to a minimum, using clear graphics wherever possible.
Select a muted color for the poster itself, such as gray, beige, light blue, or white and use a contrasting, clear font color (usually black).
Make sure your font size is large enough to be read comfortably from at least three feet away.
Design figures and diagrams to be viewed from a distance, and label each one.
Include a concise summary of each figure in a legend below each one.
Be prepared to provide brief descriptions of your poster and to answer questions; keep your explanations short.