1. Deborah Faupel, Grants Center 5/8/12

2. 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

3. Source of information Conversation starter Summary of your work Advertisement of your work

4. The goal of a research poster is to present an organized visual display of your research project and findings

5. Self-explanatory Organized Concise Avoid long paragraphs Use bullets whenever possible

6. Physical appearance and organization Research content Overall effectiveness Speaking ability of presenter(s) Ability of presenter(s) to explain and answer questions

7. 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?

8. 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

9. Text size should be readable from 4-6 feet. Dont 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. Dont make it difficult for your readers to find your sections – people read from top to bottom, left to right.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Title Author(s) and Institution(s) Introduction Hypothesis or Approach Methods Results Graphics (figures, photos, graphs, tables) Discussion and Conclusions Summary Future Directions Acknowledgements

13. Optional elements Abstract References Ask your mentor about his/her preferences Ask to see examples from your group

14. 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 72 point font.

15. 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

16. If included, abstract should be identical to the one submitted for the conference

17. 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.

18. 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

19. Briefly describe data gathering process Include key details Describe any internally developed procedures

20. Briefly describe any analysis Include the most important results to date Present data in graphical form when possible or use bullets

21. 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

22. 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

23. Use bullets Be concise Present any alternate explanations for your data or unexpected results

24. What do you plan on doing next? Do you plan on using new methods? Do you still have unanswered questions?

25. If used, cite all references in the poster text. Use a reference style from a major journal in your discipline.

26. 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.

27. Prepare text for each section Select graphics Sketch layout on paper 3 or 4 panel design is typical

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. Be positive, charming and professional. Dont spend too much time with one person. If you dont know an answer, dont make it up. Distribute your handout covering key points with your contact information.

33. 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.

34. 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.