Johnny El-Rady Johnny El-Rady Undergraduate Research Undergraduate Research Symposium 2005 Symposium 2005 Poster Madness Poster Madness
Jan 14, 2016
Johnny El-RadyJohnny El-Rady
Undergraduate Research Undergraduate Research Symposium 2005Symposium 2005
Undergraduate Research Undergraduate Research Symposium 2005Symposium 2005
Poster MadnessPoster Madness
What Is a Poster?What Is a Poster?
No magic formula for successNo magic formula for success Rather, tried-and-true methods to Rather, tried-and-true methods to
make the process easiermake the process easier
Poster Poster vsvs. Talk. Talk
Less intimidatingLess intimidating More intimidatingMore intimidating
Less weight on CVLess weight on CV More weight on CVMore weight on CV
More time for More time for preparationpreparation
Less time for preparationLess time for preparation
More time for More time for discussiondiscussion
Less time for discussionLess time for discussion
Poster Poster vsvs. Talk. Talk
More time for More time for interactioninteraction
Less time for interaction Less time for interaction
Good way to meet Good way to meet peoplepeople
Not a good way to Not a good way to meet peoplemeet people
More relaxed More relaxed atmosphereatmosphere
Less relaxed atmosphereLess relaxed atmosphere
Noisy and crampedNoisy and cramped Not!Not!
Poster Poster vsvs. Talk. Talk
Repetitive and tiring!Repetitive and tiring! Not! Not!
““Play”, “forward” Play”, “forward” and “rewind”and “rewind”
Just “play” baby!Just “play” baby!
Viewable when you’re day-Viewable when you’re day-dreamin’dreamin’ Not!Not!
PortablePortable Not!Not!
Types of PostersTypes of Posters
1. 1. Cut-and-paste onto panels on a matte boardCut-and-paste onto panels on a matte board
2. 2. Adobe PageMakerAdobe PageMaker Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft PowerPoint
Where to Start?Where to Start?
First, address these questionsFirst, address these questions
1. 1.
2. 2.
Important GuidelinesImportant Guidelines
Remember theRemember the
The poster is NOTThe poster is NOT It should be as concise as possible It should be as concise as possible
Convey theConvey the
Important GuidelinesImportant Guidelines
Posters are primarily visual presentations!Posters are primarily visual presentations! should should
dominate!dominate!
Don’t overload your posterDon’t overload your poster Keep some Keep some between between
sections sections
TitleTitle Abstract??Abstract?? IntroductionIntroduction MethodologyMethodology Results Results ConclusionsConclusions ReferencesReferences Acknowledgements Acknowledgements
TitleTitle
Typically across the top of the posterTypically across the top of the poster
Should be eye-catching but not too cute!Should be eye-catching but not too cute!
Never more thanNever more than
Use 72-fontUse 72-font
Include author(s) and affiliation(s)Include author(s) and affiliation(s) Use smaller fontUse smaller font
TitleTitle
TOWN OFFICIAL TAKES TOWN OFFICIAL TAKES
STAND ON MANURE PILESTAND ON MANURE PILE Town official takes stand on manure Town official takes stand on manure
pilepileHeadlines – The Tonight Show with Jay LenoHeadlines – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TitleTitle
It’s OK to use a It’s OK to use a format format instead ofinstead of
Winery says it was a mouse, not a rat, Winery says it was a mouse, not a rat, that was found in sandwichthat was found in sandwich
Winery Says It Was a Mouse, Not a Winery Says It Was a Mouse, Not a Rat, that Was Found in SandwichRat, that Was Found in Sandwich
Headlines – The Tonight Show with Jay LenoHeadlines – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Layout ALayout A
1
2
3
4
5
6
START
FINISH
Layout BLayout B
1
4
2
5
3
6
START
FINISH
TextText
Use large type and Use large type and boldfaceboldface for for subject headingssubject headings 40-60 type40-60 type
Use smaller type for body textUse smaller type for body text 20-2820-28
Never use less than 14-pt!Never use less than 14-pt! And if possible, not less than 16-pt And if possible, not less than 16-pt or even 18-ptor even 18-pt
TextText
Use a serif font for body textUse a serif font for body text
IllustrateIllustrate IllustrateIllustrate
TextText
Don’t include very large blocks of textDon’t include very large blocks of text
Use sentence lists whenever possibleUse sentence lists whenever possible
Use Use italicsitalics and and boldfaceboldface instead of instead of underliningunderlining
Don’t vary excessively the Don’t vary excessively the typestypes, , type type sizessizes andand typefacestypefaces
IntroductionIntroduction
Provide some background informationProvide some background information Avoid excessive definitionsAvoid excessive definitions
““Hook” viewers by piquing their interestHook” viewers by piquing their interest Use photographs, if possibleUse photographs, if possible
MethodologyMethodology
Use of explicit subject headings is a plus!Use of explicit subject headings is a plus!
ResultsResults
Typically the Typically the section of the poster section of the poster
Use of explicit subject headings is a plus!Use of explicit subject headings is a plus!
Illustrate in graphs and tables what you Illustrate in graphs and tables what you found!found!
ConclusionsConclusions
Discuss your resultsDiscuss your results
Use of explicit subject headings is a plus!Use of explicit subject headings is a plus!
You can also addressYou can also address
Acknowledgements Acknowledgements
Your chance to thank the people who Your chance to thank the people who have made have made importantimportant contributions to the contributions to the projectproject
References References
List the most relevant journal articles to List the most relevant journal articles to your workyour work
Graphics Graphics
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/GoodGraphs/
Graphics Graphics
Should be asShould be as
Avoid Avoid for graphs for graphs
Align y-axis labels horizontally, if space Align y-axis labels horizontally, if space permitspermits
Graphics Graphics
Don’t display Don’t display data indata in
Use clipart Use clipart onlyonly if it if it 1. adds 1. adds to the display to the display 2. 2. the subject the subject
mattermatter
Addition of a thin colored border to a Addition of a thin colored border to a photograph may enhance its visual appealphotograph may enhance its visual appeal
Colors Colors
Colors are a two-edged swordColors are a two-edged sword
TheyThey
TheyThey
Colors Colors
Do use colors in your poster, but with Do use colors in your poster, but with the following caveatsthe following caveats Avoid Avoid colorscolors Stick to Stick to colorscolors Be mindful of Be mindful of
between background and foregroundbetween background and foreground Remember that a few viewers could Remember that a few viewers could
bebe
Handout Handout
You should consider having a handout You should consider having a handout for viewersfor viewers It can includeIt can include
Your contact informationYour contact information A miniature copy of the posterA miniature copy of the poster Detailed methodologyDetailed methodology An annotated list of referencesAn annotated list of references Relevant websitesRelevant websites
Final Touches Final Touches
Make sure that the poster is devoid of Make sure that the poster is devoid of mechanical errorsmechanical errors Look forLook for
speling mistakesspeling mistakes
the use of of repeated wordsthe use of of repeated words
grammatical errors you might grammatical errors you might have makehave make
Final Touches Final Touches
Make sure that the poster isMake sure that the poster is
Make sure that the poster has aMake sure that the poster has a
Presenting Your Poster Presenting Your Poster
Dress conservativelyDress conservatively Try to choose clothes that do not Try to choose clothes that do not
clash with your poster clash with your poster
No hats!No hats!
Wear comfortable shoes Wear comfortable shoes
Arrive to the poster session earlyArrive to the poster session early
Presenting Your Poster Presenting Your Poster
Don’t chew gum/tobaccoDon’t chew gum/tobacco
Make yourself readily identifiableMake yourself readily identifiable
Don’t stand too close to your posterDon’t stand too close to your poster
Don’t put your hands in your pocket Don’t put your hands in your pocket
Presenting Your Poster Presenting Your Poster
Be able to give a 2-4 minute verbal Be able to give a 2-4 minute verbal explanation of your workexplanation of your work
When explaining your posterWhen explaining your poster Don’t use notesDon’t use notes Do refer to the figuresDo refer to the figures Don’t turn your back to the viewerDon’t turn your back to the viewer
Presenting Your Poster Presenting Your Poster
Don’t engage in Don’t engage in prolongedprolonged conversation with a single individual conversation with a single individual
Try to circulate to view other postersTry to circulate to view other posters
Stick around for the entire duration!Stick around for the entire duration!
Have fun!!!Have fun!!!
Useful Websites Useful Websites http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.htmllabs/ktosney/file/PostersHome.html A site that offers positive and negative A site that offers positive and negative
examples of postersexamples of posters Has links to other helpful websitesHas links to other helpful websites
http://http://www.biophysics.org/education/block.pdfwww.biophysics.org/education/block.pdf The Do’s and Don’ts of Poster PresentationThe Do’s and Don’ts of Poster Presentation
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/60second.htmlhttp://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/60second.html A 60 second poster evaluation for project designers A 60 second poster evaluation for project designers
and evaluatorsand evaluators