Characteristics of a Good Scientific Poster

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Characteristics of a Good Scientific Poster

• Dr. Gail P. Taylor
• University of Texas at San Antonio
• Rev 8/2004

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Acknowledgements

• ABRCMS poster Guidelines. http//www.abrcms.org/po
  sterguidelines.asp
• Colin Purrington Advice for designing scientific
  posters. http//www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1
  /posteradvice.htm
• Knowledge Management in Health Services HSERV
  590A Creating a Poster Using MS PowerPoint
  University of Washington http//courses.washington
  .edu/hs590a/weblinks/poster.html
• Creating Effective Poster Presentations Hess
  and Liegel. http//www4.ncsu.edu/grhess/posters/
• University of Buffalo- Designing effective poster
  presentations http//ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/u
  nits/sel/bio/posters.html
• University of Kansas- Jeff Radel
  http//www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Poster_Present
  ations/PstrStart.html

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Why a Poster?

• Great for scientific meetings/sessions
• Quick display of your research
• Promotes communication
• Longer timeframe than talk
• More interactive than talk

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A poster is designed to

• Provide a brief overview of your work 
• Engage/initiate discussion 
• Attract attention 
• Reach as many people as possible.
• Serve as visual aids as you speak 
• stand alone when you're not there to provide an
  explanation 
• let people know of your particular expertise

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Who is Your Audience?

• People in your field
• Will read even if bad
• People in related fields
• Easily persuaded to view
• Previously uninterested passers by
• Can be attracted by a good poster

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Making Your Poster

• Follow rules of conference
• Visually inviting
• Simply and tightly written

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Follow Rules of Conference

• http//www.abrcms.org/posterguidelines.asp
• Size Max (board size) vs Size Requirement
• Abstract number
• Abstract in or out
• Contact Information
• Section headings
• Font size

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Should be Visually Appealing

• Divide onto 4 (range 3-5) columns
• Make text large enough to read 5 ft away
• Understand reader gravity
• Have an obvious flow- Use headings and number as
  needed
• Use white space to organize
• Carry your information with colorful images and
  figures
• Neutral backgrounds (not too dark)

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Visually Appealing II

• Balance your text and images
• Use very large font for title (1-2 high)
• Use at least 24 pt text for body text (including
  in figures!)
• Dont use all caps
• Some recommend sentence case in titles
• Format text to prevent sub- or superscripts from
  altering spacing

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Simply and tightly written

• Minimize writing and maximize visuals
• Avoid long sentences and paragraphs
• Put closely related text and images near one
  another
• Can use Figure legends/headings as text
• Can use handouts to supplement
• Your Mentor is Always Right

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Software

• Actual layout
• Powerpoint (one big slide)
• Pagemaker
• Canvas
• Illustrator
• Quark
• Print directly or convert to pdf
• Images
• Photoshop
• MS Photo editor
• Tables/Graphs
• Directly from Office (Excel or Word)

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Getting Started

• Create a storyboard
• Rough paper sketch of your poster
• Choose headings desired
• Select figures/tables
• Can use bulleted or numbered lists
• Top left to bottom right

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Abstract

• May not be required
• Preferably that turned in for abstract book
• Will provide redundant information
• Preferably 150 words (up to 250)

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Purpose

• OrObjective, Aim, Goal
• Why are you doing?

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Introduction

• Or Background
• Get viewers interested!
• Reason you chose to study
• Foundation for your work
• Make very brief
• Equivalent to 1 double spaced 12 pt page

16
Materials/Methods

• Can include a flow chart to summarize
• Make sure to include subjects, experimental
  design, statistical methods, drugs and equipment
  used

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Hypothesis

• Can include in Intro section
• Could also be associated with Purpose

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Results

• Experiments- what you saw.
• Indicate at beginning if it worked
• Make Image-based use few words
• Can have 1-2 paragraphs to go along with images
• Can use figure legends/captions as words
• Largest section

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Conclusions

• Or discussion, or summary (can be divided)
• Tie back to real world problem (from intro)
• Very few words
• Bullets good
• Bigger font if needed

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References

• Required
• Standard format
• Can make smaller if needed

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Acknowledgements

• Should be included
• Thank people for technical assistance, etc.
• Must contain one of the following
• Supported by NIGMS MBRS-RISE GM 60655
• Supported by NIGMS MARC-USTAR GM 07717

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Supplemental Materials

• Mini-poster printed out
• Single-sheet handout
• Text
• Graphics
• highlight the major findings/implications
• Include your name, phone, address, and e-mail.

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Some Example Posters

• UTSA Template
• http//www.utsa.edu/mbrs/resources.htm
• More Posters
• http//www4.ncsu.edu/grhess/posters/
• Free templates http//www.megaprint.com/medical.
  html
• http//miu.med.unsw.edu.au/downloads.htm
• http//ibscore.dbs.umt.edu/toolkit.htm

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Additional References

• http//ibscore.dbs.umt.edu/makeposter.pdf
• Go there for Review!