1. Creating & Giving an effective poster presentation
PVAMU – Research Experience programs

2. outline Purpose of a Poster Presentation
Creating an effective Poster Presentation
Presenting an effective Poster
Poster Layout & Design Guidelines
PVAMU REU/REH Poster Guidelines
Questions & Answers

3. Creating an effective poster presentation
The poster
Creating an effective poster presentation

4. What is a scientific poster?
“A scientific poster is a method of professional communication that visually tells the comprehensive, but condensed, story of a research project.”
The poster presenter engages visitors in dialogue that:
explains the research,
expands the provided information, and
ensures the visitor leaves with the desired take-away message about the project.
(ref #4)

5. Why give Scientific Posters?
To share findings of scientific research.
To share ideas with colleagues.
To gain constructive feedback on the research.
(ref #4)

6. The Best Poster ……… Has a clear central message.
Provides a brief summary of the research.
Initiates discussion about the research.
Stands alone when presenter is not there to provide an explanation.  
(ref #1 & 2)

7. Research Poster Symposium

8. Developing your poster information
Core poster elements
Developing your poster information

9. Core Poster Elements Overview/Background of the research
Research Objectives, Purpose, Questions, Problems
Methodology/Materials
Findings/Data/Results
Interpretation & Discussion of Findings/Data/Results
Conclusions
Future research, if appropriate
Acknowledgements
These elements become your poster section headings

10. Poster Example

11. Poster example

12. Poster example

13. Core Poster Elements
Seek Guidance from your Mentor as poster elements may vary based on research and discipline

14. Creativity is key!
Poster Layout & Design

15. Poster basics
Program posters will be a uniform 4 ft. wide by 3 ft. high.
It is not necessary to fill all of the space - do not “clutter” your poster
4 ft
3 ft

16. Creating Large Format Posters Using PowerPoint
You will be making just one slide (or page) in PowerPoint. One really big slide!
Click on the Design tab at the top and then “Page Setup.”
Under "Slides Sized for:" choose "Custom." In the Page Setup pop-up menu, set the page size to the size that you want your poster to be.

17. Basics of creating a poster
Viewer-friendly style with large (not small) typeface & informative headings
Use pictures, drawing and graphs to present the majority of the information
Small chunks of texts vs. long paragraphs of text
Logical and orderly progression of presentation of information
Summary statement(s) of key aspects
Easily understood language without jargon or undefined acronyms
ref # 4

18. Poster layouts Sequential information in columns.
VERTICAL
Horizontal
Sequential information in columns.
Sequential information in rows

19. Choosing a layout
Vertical Layout is most common: This layout enables the poster elements to be viewed in progression and helps to prevent traffic jams

20. General Design Guidelines
The most important elements of a poster should be displayed at the viewer’s eye level – near the top of the poster board.
Plan the layout of the elements - when the layout is finalized, sketch it on a piece of paper to use as a helpful reminder when creating the poster.
Use a minimum font size of 20. If it is too small, people will move to next poster.

21. General Design Guidelines (cont’d)
Use good contrast colors and large font sizes.
• Titles: pt for long titles & 100 pt for short titles
• Affiliation line: pt
• Text: pt
• Font: Use normal fonts in dark colors
• Background: Avoid dark background colors
Avoid fancy fonts as they may not be on the computer used for printing.

22. General Design Guidelines (cont’d)
Set the page size first! Resizing the poster later will almost always cause problems. This is especially important in PowerPoint.
Try not to PASTE text, images, charts, tables, etc. These items should be inserted or manually typed for the best resolution when printing.

23. General Design Guidelines (cont’d)
Use bullets and/or boldface to emphasize important information.
Define important technical terms used throughout a poster. A small section set aside for definitions may be helpful to visitors.
CHECK FOR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES!

24. Giving an effective poster presentation
Look the part
Giving an effective poster presentation

25. Presenting Your poster…..
Look attractive (well manicured, clean-cut, nicely dressed).
Wear a name tag, if possible, so that the audience knows that the poster belongs to you.
Do not chew gum, toothpicks, etc.
Keep your hands out of your pockets.
Attractive people get better-paying jobs and cuter spouses, of course, but they also get more poster visitors. Yes, I know that’s unfair. Believe me. You’re stuck with your allotment of alleles, but you can and should get rid of that yellow tartar buildup on your teeth, and get some sleep the night before.
Research (see Keegan and Bannister 2003 in “Useful literature”) has shown that your poster will be avoided, a bit, when you clash. If you are color blind or fashion-impaired, please ask somebody to help you dress (a lame pick-up line, but give it a try if you’re desperate).

26. Presenting Your poster…..
Try not to refer to notes when explaining your poster.
Speak to your viewers and not the poster.
Avoid vagueness such as “this figure shows our main result”.
If more viewers arrive halfway into your presentation, finish your discussion for the earlier visitors first.
Stand beside your poster during the entire scheduled session - don’t block the view of your work.
(ref. 1, 2, &3)

27. Presenting YOUR poster…..
Always Smile and have a pleasant disposition.
Speak with Confidence and Clarity.
Deliver a strong introduction of your research to engage your audience.
Be prepared – However, know that you may not be able to answer every question.
You are the Expert and Have Fun!

28. Where do I begin?
The trick to a great poster is embracing the Rough Draft.
Identify the Central Message - Spend time thinking about your central message. Construct a sentence of 25 words or less that best describes your what your poster will focus on.
For each section of your paper (Results, Methods, Discussion), ask what is the central message and construct these sections with that focus in mind.
(ref. 1, 2, &3)
The key to an effective poster presentation begins with the construction of the poster. Before you put the poster together using a software, develop a rough draft with revisions of what you plan to present.
The poster content and layout are critical to the effectiveness of poster presentation. As discussed in slide one, as possible, avoid having two many points include on one poster. Identify a central message and build the content in such a way that it supports your central message, enlightens your audience, and initiate great discussion.
The most effective posters provide minimal text. Few will have the patience to read through a lot of verbiage. Furthermore, most of your colleagues will be standing at a great distance from your poster, as they jockey for position to get a look at your work. Although, a certain amount of text will be necessary, especially in the Introduction and Discussion sections so be strategic of where you use your text.
Graphics are good visuals for for attracting attention to your poster. Make sure that they are outlined and “pop” so that they are noticed. There are a number of references available that provide more guidance on when to use what type of graphs and other graphics.
Finally, seek internal and external feedback from your colleagues and advisor. Externally, there are websites such as “Pimp my Poster” offered by flickr where you can solicit feedback.

29. Activity #1
Take 2 minutes and write out an introduction for your project, including the central message.
Turn to the person next to you and take turns delivering introduction, smiling, and speaking with confidence.

30. REU/REH Poster Guidelines
Poster SIZE
48’’ x 36’’ (4 x 3)
TITLE (should include the appropriate program acronym)
REU: The Effects of Vitamin D on Blood Pressure
Amber Joy Price, Maxwell High School
Mentor: Austin Watkins, Ph.D., Department of Health

31. Seek advice from your faculty mentor!
Conclusion
Develop a Central Message for your poster.
Look the Part.
Watch Color Scheme, Font Size, and Font Style.
Deliver your Presentation with Confidence and Enthusiasm!
Practice giving your poster presentation with others in your research group.
Seek advice from your faculty mentor!

32. Questions?

33. Activity #2
Take out a sheet of paper and design a layout for your poster (pick appropriate section headings based on your discipline and research)

34. References Retrieved from: