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