Poster Presentation Guidelines
General aim and format
- A poster is a graphically based approach to presenting research. In presenting your research with a poster, you should aim to use the poster as a means for generating active discussion of the research.
- Limit the text to about one-fourth of the poster space, and use “visuals” (graphs, photographs, schematics, etc.) to tell your “story.”
Design and layout specifications
- Maximum size 3 ft wide and 4.5 ft high (100cm wide x 140cm height). If it does not conform to this maximum size, we regret it may not be possible to mount the poster.
- The board must be oriented in the “portrait” position (long dimension is vertical).
- A banner displaying your poster title, name, and department should be positioned at top-centre of the board.
- Leave some open space in the design. An open layout is less tiring to the eye and mind.
Lettering
- Text should be readable from five feet away.
- Lettering for the title should be large . Use all capital letters for the title.
Visuals
- Present numerical data in the form of graphs, rather than tables (graphs make trends in the data much more evident). If data must be presented in table-form, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
- Visuals should be simple and bold. Leave out or remove any unnecessary details.
- Make sure that any visual can “stand alone” (i. e., graph axes are properly labelled, symbols are explained, etc.).
- Use color to enhance comprehension, not to decorate the poster. Neatly coloring black-line illustrations with color pencils is entirely acceptable.
- Make sure that the text and the visuals are integrated. Figures should be numbered consecutively according to the order in which they are first mentioned in the text.
Each visual should have a brief title
Text
- Keep the text brief. Use text to (a) introduce the study (what hypothesis was tested or what problem was investigated? why was the study worth doing?), (b) explain visuals and direct viewers’ attention to significant data trends and relationships portrayed in the visuals, and (c) state and explain the interpretations that follow from the data. In many cases, conclusions can be summarized in a bullet-point list.
- Depending upon the stage or nature of your project, the text could also include sections on future research plans or questions for discussion with viewers.
- Cite and reference any sources of information other than your own, just as you would do with a research paper. The “References Cited” is placed at the end of the poster.
Presenting the poster
- Posters must be placed on the designated site by
- All posters have to be presented to chairperson of poster themes. The time allowed is 5-7 minutes