5/1/2012
HOW TO PREPARE A
POSTER PRESENTATION?
Dr. Mohamad Abiad
Goals of a Poster Presentation
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A visual presentation of your research.
Concise and focused
Explains your research using schematics, graphs,
and other visual strategies, with a minimum of
supporting text
Uses various strategies to attract viewers and
stimulate conversation
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Key points of a poster layout
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Background
Organization
Text
Pictures
Graphs/Tables
Balance
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
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Backgrounds
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Photographs as backgrounds lose resolution when
blown up (pixelation)
Dark backgrounds are easier on the eye but use
more dye
Colored backgrounds can often break the monotony
of a sea of white posters, thus attracting a viewer
Use background/foreground contrasts
Avoid fill patterns
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Organization
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Introduction/Summary
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Use a minimum of background information
Should be composed mostly of your research
questions/hypotheses
Methods
May shorten this section by using references for less critical
techniques
 Flow diagrams work well here.
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Results
Biggest section of the poster
lots of graphs, figures, etc.
 Arrange in a logical order so conclusions naturally follow
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Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Organization
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Discussion
Usually more of a conclusion than a discussion
May use bulleted lists
 Link the results to the hypotheses
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Acknowledgements
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References
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Collaborators and grant support
Keep to a minimum
Only cite critical references to your project
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Text
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Should be able to read anything from 1-2m away
Establish a hierarchy of importance using the font size:
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Title: 65-108 pts
Subheadings: 36-54 pts
Body text: 18-27 pts
AVOID USING ALL CAPS
Double-space all text, unless font size is large enough to read
comfortably single-spaced
Use shorter sentences than you might otherwise use
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Text
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Use left justification (easier to read)
Use sans serif fonts
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Be consistent in font type and size
Use bold, italics, or underline to emphasize words
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Times New Roman
Arial
Don’t change fonts to emphasize a word
Don’t use all three
Check your spelling
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Pictures
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JPEG, bitmap, or TIFF formats are easiest to use
Stay within 150-300 dpi resolution
Use light backgrounds with dark photos and vice
versa
Neutral/gray backgrounds enhance color photos
while white backgrounds reduce their impact
10cmx13cm photos are a good minimum size
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
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Graphs/Charts
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Make sure that the text on axes and legends adhere to
the minimum font size
Few lines on a graph - label directly
Multiple lines on a graph - use a legend
Try to make all graphs and figures the same size for
consistency
Make lines in the graphs thick enough to see from 1-2m
away
Use different colors for different groups, and maintain
same color groups throughout poster
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Balance
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Easiest layout involves boxes in 3-5 columns
Is one side text- or graph-heavy?
Use of contrasting or complementary colors
Even margins and spaces between boxes?
General rule of thumb: 20% text, 40% graphics,
and 40% empty space
Where does the eye go?
Does the poster flow?
Would this poster make you want to stop to read?
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Using PowerPoint
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Before you start…
 What are the allowable poster dimensions for the
symposium/conference?
 Decide on your poster dimensions
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For this course we will use either size:
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36”x48”
42”x60”
Type text into Word and create graphs in Excel
Plan layout on paper before using PowerPoint
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Poster Template
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Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Wrap-up
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Review poster by looking at issues of balance
Review layout tips given earlier in this seminar.
Check for spelling and other errors
Print slide to A4 paper (scaled to fit) for final
proofing
Before you print your poster remember that “What
you see is what you get”
May print several proofs to hand out at the
symposium
Dr. Mohamad Abiad - NFSC 299
Poster Sample
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Do’s and Don’ts
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Refer to handout!
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Additional help and templates:
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/NewSite/Create
PosterOverview.html
 http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/posterpres.html
 http://www.posterpresentations.com/html/free_poster_
templates.html
 http://www.makesigns.com/SciPosters_Templates.aspx
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Good Luck!
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