How to make and present an effective poster Susan Boehnke, Ph.D. Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University

>25 conference posters…!!

Main Suggestions •

Define your take home message (3 pts max)

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Minimize text and maximize effective graphics

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Prepare several versions of your delivery • 30 sec, 2-3 min, 5-10 min detailed version • Prepare for specific questions from a competitor PRACTICE!

It starts with your Title & Abstract • Define your message in a declarative title “Factor ‘X’ increases Y” vs. “The effect of factor X on Y”

It starts with your Title & Abstract • Your abstract is a stand-alone document      

Rationale: Why should we care? Objectives: Why are you doing it? Methods: How did you do it? (keep minimal) Results: What did you find? (minimize stats, may change) Conclusions: Why does it matter? Implications: What should we do with this knowledge?

-Be as BOLD as your data will allow! -Never say “Results will be presented and discussed“! -If your spouse/partner/roommate can’t follow it, start again.

It starts with your Title & Abstract • Take care with session selection/ key words, so right people find you

Know your setting THE MEGA CONFERENCE!! e.g. Society for Neuroscience (35k) American Geophysical Union (20k)

Know your setting An intimate conference -small society (specialized) -research showcase @ Queen’s (broad)

Goal: attract and retain viewers • In 3 seconds – a viewer decides to approach or avoid from about 10 ft away. – Key message readable from 10 ft – Attractive graphics, minimal text

• In 30 seconds – they decide whether it is worth processing beyond the subtitles – Make sure you can deliver your main take-home messages in that 30 seconds from subtitles

Prepare for 3 Audiences 1. Lab that is rabidly competing with you -prepare for battle!

2. *People in your general field* -will provide great suggestions/ideas

3. People outside your field - may have novel insights

Adapted from:http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters

Creating it – Get dimensions Details on conference website • What is max allowed size? • Can your software do that size? – Powerpoint does 56”x56” max

• What can your printer do? – plotters are usually 36” or 48” wide

Creating it – Sketch it Out! • Use your abstract as a guide • BUT - never put the abstract on your poster!! -Your poster IS an abstract of your research • Sketch out your key messages in declarative form • Plan what your key figures will be Taken from ‘Pimp my poster’, by Andrea Wiggins

Creating it – Choosing Software • Powerpoint/Keynote work fine – Everyone can open your file for editing/printing – Everyone knows how to use it – It basically does everything you need

• Adobe Illustrator / Canvas / Corel Draw etc. are even better, but can be challenging to use

Creating it – Choosing Software • Powerpoint Demo • Logos http://www.queensu.ca/identity/logo

The Layout: Left-Right in 1 pass only Why? In crowded setting, hard to go back to read the next L-R row

Fischer & Zigmond, 2012

The Layout – DO THIS! Visual guidance cues “where next?”

Declarative statements tell the main point of each panel Take home points can be read in 30s

Text is readable by a 60yr old at a distance! Adapted from:http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters

Figures are simple, uncluttered and tell a story

The Layout – DON’T DO THIS! • May as well just hand them your manuscript • Text unreadable • No visual guidance to help viewer • No figures

The Layout – Colour • Avoid colourful, cluttered, textured backgrounds • Colour blocking of titles is helpful - Use dark colours so that white text contrasts - Avoid warm, bright colours (red, orange etc.) - Go with cool, muted (Dark blue, Forest green, Plum)

• Bright Red is hard on Eyes • Dark colors are better, good contrast

The Layout – Font Size

Title

100+pt

Subtitles

48pt

Main Text32pt Refs, legends24pt Note – sans-serif font

The Layout – Images • Photos should be 5x7 min. • Crop to focus on key part of image • 300dpi min. • check how it prints blown up to poster size

The Layout – Graphs • Graphs should be simple, with axes optimized to show the effect • Use colour effectively – Carry scheme through the poster

• Watch font size on axes and legends

Soc Sci / Humanities Examples Humanities conference: http://digital.humanities.ox.ac.uk/dhoxss/2013/posters.html#Airchinnigh

Plan for your Presentation

You may be stuck at your poster for HOURS! Be prepared! Plan your conference kit:

- Water, snacks and breath mints (not gum) - Paper and a pen for contact info, questions, ideas - Reprints of published papers, printed copies of your poster

Plan for your Presentation

You may be stuck at your poster for HOURS! Be prepared! Plan what to wear

- Room temperature? - dress in layers - Presenting can be physical: standing & stretching to point out data - Clothing choice is important

Plan for your Presentation You should look professional

Define yourself by your badge & your work - People look at your badge before your face - You are representing Queen’s and your lab

GOOD!

(Badge stands out on solid shirt)

LESS GOOD

(Badge gets tangled/flipped/hidden)

Goal: attract and retain viewers • In 3 seconds – a viewer decides to approach or avoid from about 10 ft away – Smile, make eye contact

• You must convey your main points to a visitor in