How to Prepare and Present a Computer Science Poster John Greiner Rice University

2 Poster Session Challenges Audiences make decisions quickly Posters sometimes stand alone Audiences come and go as presenters talk Poster must be accessible –Show overall organization –Show comparisons Poster must be comprehensible Speaker must attract others, adapt to situation ChallengesSolutions

3 Today’s Plan Textual Visual Oral Pragmatics

4 Similar to a Technical Paper Tell an interesting story What’s your “news”? What problem are you solving? What are your results/conclusions? What sets your work apart? – E.g., new algorithm or theoretical approach Why does your work matter? How can your work be applied?

5 Similar to a Technical Paper Structure your story Say what you’re going to sayAbstract Say itBody & Results Say what you saidConclusion

6 Make “The News” Accessible Using structure –Provide a “gist” somewhere (abstract, summary, overview) –Include problem statement or objective –Use specific headings Using wording –Reduce jargon Using visuals –Is it an image? –Is it a contrast? (old vs. new) –Is it a demonstration?

7 Different From a Technical Paper Space is at a premium Interactivity is key Be concise – word choice, sentence fragments Be precise – word choice Pictures are often more effective than words Omit unnecessary details –MUST KNOWUse as your main focus –Good to knowAdd some –Nice to knowLeave details for oral presentation

8 If you design a poster that looks like this …

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10 Your audience will react like this

11 The ideal anesthetic should quickly make the patient unconscious but allow a quick return to consciousness, have few side effects, and be safe to handle. Ideal anesthetics: –Quick sedation –Quick recovery –Few side effects –Safe to handle Complex Text to Clear Text

12 Complex Text to Clear Text Next generation computer games cost approximately 20 to 30 million dollars, require one to three years of development, and may have a short life cycle in the market of only six weeks. Next-gen game: Investment: $20M–$30M Development cycle: 1–3 years Life cycle: 6 weeks

13 Think Visually Figures & Graphs Fonts Colors Layout With lots of examples to discuss

14 Figures Should Be Accessible & Self-Explanatory Use tags and/or captions Caption…

15 Problems Producing Graphs & Pictures Size Resolution Colors Labels Units Chart junk Significant figures and error bars

16 Before

17 After Microbenchmark Performance

18 Before

19 After Untreated Cells TC Treated Cells FN Treated Cells

20 Textual Presentation Guides the Reader Scale expresses relative importance Indenting shows subordination –As in this example Color adds emphasis or coherence changesMeaningless font and color changes are distracting Avoid low-contrast colors White space directs gaze

21 Font Style and Size Title – about 6-8 words –90 – 120 pt Headings – about 3 words –36 – 48 pt Text –30 – 36 pt Sans serif fonts best in large scale – posters Serif fonts best on small scale – papers

22 Left-to-Right in Columns Like a paper, flows top to bottom, left to right Title & Authors

Results Methods Goals ProblemTable 1 Conclusions Fig 2

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26 Left-to-Right in Rows Title & Authors Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

29 Centered Image & Explanations Title & Authors Abstract

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31 Side-by-Side Compare & Contrast Title & Authors

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34 Details Matter! Use consistent formatting Check grammar & spelling Include contact info Use a correct bibliography Give credit to others

36 Connect with the Audience Greet audience. Why are they interested? What are their backgrounds? How will they benefit? What are their questions? Prepare 30 second, 2 minute, and 5 minute talks. Different levels of interest Different backgrounds Be able to summarize key points in 2-3 sentences. Be able to start from any section. Reinforce key points.

37 Communicate with Confidence Stand up straight Integrate gestures Don’t block view of poster Speak up Be enthusiastic Maintain eye contact Adjust pacing

38 Corporate Affiliates Day Specifics (2009) Deadlines By Oct 1: Sign up online with abstract: By Oct 8: Submit poster for printing Oct 15: Corporate Affiliates day Getting help from me Feedback on draft posters 1-on-1 presentation coaching session –Your poster/demo should be done!

39 Corporate Affiliates Day Specifics (2009) Any size, but mounted on 48”x48” board Mounted with velcro (provided) or pins Posters judged on 3 main criteria: –Technical novelty –Poster design –Oral presentation

40 Practicalities Editing: –LaTeX, PowerPoint – many templates online, or use a friend’s Printing: –Plotters in Earth Science: –Plotter in library: –Plotters in Mudd Building: –University Copy Center in the RMC –One plot/student paid for Corp. Affiliates – for fund # –FedEx (2455 Rice Blvd.): –Relatively expensive! (roughly $70 with white background) –Can print drafts in low resolution / matte (still fairly expensive). –Takes time – plan ahead.

41 Contact info John Greiner, More design information at –

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43 Better organization But distracting color contrasts