poster presentations at conferences

How to Create a Research Poster

• Poster Basics
• Design Tips
• Logos & Images

What is a Research Poster?

Posters are widely used in the academic community, and most conferences include poster presentations in their program.  Research posters summarize information or research concisely and attractively to help publicize it and generate discussion. 

The poster is usually a mixture of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view the presentation and interact with the author.

What Makes a Good Poster?

• Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away
• Title is short and draws interest
• Word count of about 300 to 800 words
• Text is clear and to the point
• Use of bullets, numbering, and headlines make it easy to read
• Effective use of graphics, color and fonts
• Consistent and clean layout
• Includes acknowledgments, your name and institutional affiliation

A Sample of a Well Designed Poster

View this poster example in a web browser .  

Image credit: Poster Session Tips by [email protected], via Penn State

Where do I begin?

Answer these three questions:.

• What is the most important/interesting/astounding finding from my research project?
• How can I visually share my research with conference attendees? Should I use charts, graphs, photos, images?
• What kind of information can I convey during my talk that will complement my poster?

What software can I use to make a poster?

A popular, easy-to-use option. It is part of Microsoft Office package and is available on the library computers in rooms LC337 and LC336. ( Advice for creating a poster with PowerPoint ).

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign

Feature-rich professional software that is good for posters including lots of high-resolution images, but they are more complex and expensive.  NYU Faculty, Staff, and Students can access and download the Adobe Creative Suite .

Open Source Alternatives 

• OpenOffice is the free alternative to MS Office (Impress is its PowerPoint alternative).
• Inkscape and Gimp are alternatives to Adobe products.
• For charts and diagrams try Gliffy or Lovely Charts .
• A complete list of free graphics software .

A Sample of a Poorly Designed Poster

View this bad poster example in a browser.

Image Credit: Critique by Better Posters

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Tips for presenting your scientific poster at a conference

A scientific poster is a visual presentation that summarises your research findings and is typically displayed at conferences or academic events. Presenting one can be intimidating, but it's a valuable opportunity for feedback and confidence-building. Check out our top 9 top tips for successfully presenting your poster at a scientific conference.

Be welcoming

You should do your best to stand at your poster for the entirety of the conference poster session. If you do need to leave your poster for any reason, ensure you include your email address on it, so you can be contacted by conference attendees who may read your poster while you are not there. Read more tips for making your poster stand out here.

To make everyone feel welcome, stand to the side of your poster. This will make it easy for your potential audience to move closer and see the whole thing.

Think of your poster as a conversation starter. Smile and say hello to everyone who walks past and looks at you or your poster. Invite them to read more and, if they seem interested, ask if they would like you to talk them through it or if they have any questions.

Engage your audience

Remember to be enthusiastic - your research is exciting! Even towards the end of the poster session, when your energy levels may be lower, it is important to remain enthusiastic. If it is clear you find your work interesting, your audience are more likely to as well!

As you are presenting your poster, point to relevant parts of the poster so that people can follow as your talk through it. Try to avoid putting your hands in your pockets or behind your back.

Remember to also keep looking back at the audience, to keep them engaged and feeling involved in the presentation.

If you are already presenting your research to someone or a small group and someone else walks up, acknowledge them by making eye contact with them and smiling. Once you have finished with your initial visitors ask the newcomer if there was anything they missed that they would like a further explanation of, or whether they have any questions.

The most important aspect of presenting a poster at a conference is to make the most out of the opportunity you’ve been given. Who knows what might become of an interaction that you have in front of that notice board?

Tips for presenting your scientific poster at a conference: Engage your audience

The “elevator” pitch

First impressions really count in poster presentations. To pique the interest of your potential audience you should have a very short synopsis (maximum three sentences and no longer than two minutes) of your research prepared, which contains three vital bits of information:

• What is your research topic?
• What have you found?
• Why is that important?

The aim here is to get your audience hooked and wanting further details. Keep the bigger picture in mind, as the audience first needs the background info to then get excited about the small details of your research. Make sure your pitch is punchy, intriguing and relevant.

Creating a story

Once you’ve reeled in your audience and they are eager to learn more, it’s time to build the narrative of your research. Like all great stories your research needs a beginning, a middle and an end. Aim for this to be 10 minutes long, or less.

The introduction should set the scene and introduce the main characters:

• What is the necessary background information about your research topic that the audience must know?
• How did this lead you to your research question, what were you hoping to find out and why?
• Who are the main characters (e.g. a disease, a drug, a cell type, a brain region, a technique)? What are the relevant parts of their “characteristics” to the story?

The middle section is the adventure, it answers:

• How did you get from your research question to your conclusion? Why did you choose to take that route?
• What did you find on your way? Were there any interesting twists to your research?

The final section is the conclusion to the story:

• What is the ultimate consequence of your journey? What does this mean for your characters?
• Is this really the end of the adventure or are there plenty more adventures still to come? What might they look like?

Remember: You are the narrator; it is up to you as the story teller to make the content both compelling and exciting. Attendees are not all experts in your field.; if you are unsure how familiar your audience is with your subject area, ask them.

Tips for presenting your scientific poster at a conference: Create a story

The importance of practice

Presenting your poster is ultimately a form of performance. In performances, whether they involve acting, music, sport or presenting, practice is a major factor in success. After all, however much of a cliché it is: practice makes perfect. Rehearse what you will say and practice presenting on your friends and family. Once you begin speaking at your poster session you will be pleased that you spent time preparing and practising.

Before the poster session starts make sure that you:

• Understand exactly what all the figures on the poster show, that you can explain them fully and know their full implications.
• Have your elevator pitch memorised
• Know all the key points to your research story without referring to written notes
• Are ready to answer likely questions with confidence, and know how to deal with difficult questions that you might not be able to answer fully.

Tips for presenting your scientific poster at a conference: Practice, practice, practice

Check the audience's understanding

Ask members of the audience whether you have been clear or if you should go into more detail, rather than asking if they understand, as this could make them feel stupid or ignorant.

For example, say something like “Have I been clear enough” or “should I go into more detail about……?” instead of “do you understand how this works?”

The handout

There are pros and cons to having a handout with additional supporting materials or key information from your poster. You must decide for yourself if it will be of benefit to you depending on several factors including:

• What is the purpose of your poster?
• What are you hoping to achieve with your presentation?
• Will it enhance your audience’s engagement with your research or not?

The major positive outcome of a handout is that gives your audience something to take away with them to remind them about you, your research and why they were interested in it. It also gives them a way to get in touch with you should they have further questions.

The main negative is that some people who may be interested and could benefit from speaking to you about your poster will take the leaflet, read it (or not) and never engage with your research again. It is an easy way for them to avoid talking to you, for whatever reason that may be.

If you decide to go ahead with a handout there are several items that should be included:

• The project title
• Your name and affiliation
• Your professional email address (and phone number if your happy for people to contact you that way)
• The key information from your poster (including a link to the relevant paper if it has already been published.
• Any supporting materials not included on the poster that may be of help.

Tips for presenting your scientific poster at a conference: The handout

Expand your network

Look for opportunities to exchange contact information. If someone is particularly interested in your poster and wants to know all the details of your research, it may be better to suggest meeting them for a coffee after the poster session, or arranging another time for further discussions. This will ensure that other potential audience members don’t get bored and wander off without talking to you because they have been waiting too long.

Exchanging contact information and having further discussions can be a great way to expand your network and find potential collaborators for the future.

Tips for presenting your scientific poster at a conference: Expand your network

Dealing with feedback

It is important to welcome feedback, be prepared for discussion and not to be too defensive in the face of criticism.

If someone asks you a question or makes a comment that you don’t think is relevant, ask them to explain the relevance of their comment. They may have stumbled across something that you haven’t thought of because of their fresh perspective on the topic, or they might just not understand your research. Also, a negative comment or question might not actually be a criticism, but a genuine desire to understand why you’ve done something so they can fully interpret the poster. It is unlikely that someone has visited your poster to be vindictive, and if they have it is important not to engage them, shrug off their comments and move on to the next person who is genuinely interested.

Remember to thank the audience for listening and thank them for their feedback. People who have visited your poster could potentially be employers or colleagues in the future.

You got this!

In summary, presenting your poster at a conference is a chance to showcase your research, receive feedback, and connect with peers. Embrace the opportunity, be welcoming and enthusiastic, and enjoy the experience of sharing your work with others.

Neurowire blog posts

How to make your scientific posters stand out

Less is more: Advice for keeping your poster concise

10 tips for presenting your poster online at a virtual conference

How to get the most out of a scientific conference

9 simple and effective public speaking tips for scientists

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Home Blog Design How to Design a Winning Poster Presentation: Quick Guide with Examples & Templates

How to Design a Winning Poster Presentation: Quick Guide with Examples & Templates

How are research posters like High School science fair projects? Quite similar, in fact.

Both are visual representations of a research project shared with peers, colleagues and academic faculty. But there’s a big difference: it’s all in professionalism and attention to detail. You can be sure that the students that thrived in science fairs are now creating fantastic research posters, but what is that extra element most people miss when designing a poster presentation?

This guide will teach tips and tricks for creating poster presentations for conferences, symposia, and more. Learn in-depth poster structure and design techniques to help create academic posters that have a lasting impact.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

• What is a Research Poster?

Why are Poster Presentations important?

Overall dimensions and orientation, separation into columns and sections, scientific, academic, or something else, a handout with supplemental and contact information, cohesiveness, design and readability, storytelling.

• Font Characteristics
• Color Pairing
• Data Visualization Dimensions
• Alignment, Margins, and White Space

Scientific/Academic Conference Poster Presentation

Digital research poster presentations, slidemodel poster presentation templates, how to make a research poster presentation step-by-step, considerations for printing poster presentations, how to present a research poster presentation, final words, what is a research poster .

Research posters are visual overviews of the most relevant information extracted from a research paper or analysis.   They are essential communication formats for sharing findings with peers and interested people in the field. Research posters can also effectively present material for other areas besides the sciences and STEM—for example, business and law.

You’ll be creating research posters regularly as an academic researcher, scientist, or grad student. You’ll have to present them at numerous functions and events. For example:

• Conference presentations
• Informational events
• Community centers

The research poster presentation is a comprehensive way to share data, information, and research results. Before the pandemic, the majority of research events were in person. During lockdown and beyond, virtual conferences and summits became the norm. Many researchers now create poster presentations that work in printed and digital formats.

Let’s look at why it’s crucial to spend time creating poster presentations for your research projects, research, analysis, and study papers.

Research posters represent you and your sponsor’s research 

Research papers and accompanying poster presentations are potent tools for representation and communication in your field of study. Well-performing poster presentations help scientists, researchers, and analysts grow their careers through grants and sponsorships.

When presenting a poster presentation for a sponsored research project, you’re representing the company that sponsored you. Your professionalism, demeanor, and capacity for creating impactful poster presentations call attention to other interested sponsors, spreading your impact in the field.

Research posters demonstrate expertise and growth

Presenting research posters at conferences, summits, and graduate grading events shows your expertise and knowledge in your field of study. The way your poster presentation looks and delivers, plus your performance while presenting the work, is judged by your viewers regardless of whether it’s an officially judged panel.

Recurring visitors to research conferences and symposia will see you and your poster presentations evolve. Improve your impact by creating a great poster presentation every time by paying attention to detail in the poster design and in your oral presentation. Practice your public speaking skills alongside the design techniques for even more impact.

Poster presentations create and maintain collaborations

Every time you participate in a research poster conference, you create meaningful connections with people in your field, industry or community. Not only do research posters showcase information about current data in different areas, but they also bring people together with similar interests. Countless collaboration projects between different research teams started after discussing poster details during coffee breaks.

An effective research poster template deepens your peer’s understanding of a topic by highlighting research, data, and conclusions. This information can help other researchers and analysts with their work. As a research poster presenter, you’re given the opportunity for both teaching and learning while sharing ideas with peers and colleagues.

Anatomy of a Winning Poster Presentation

Do you want your research poster to perform well?  Following the standard layout and adding a few personal touches will help attendees know how to read your poster and get the most out of your information. 

The overall size of your research poster ultimately depends on the dimensions of the provided space at the conference or research poster gallery. The poster orientation can be horizontal or vertical, with horizontal being the most common.  In general, research posters measure 48 x 36 inches or are an A0 paper size.

A virtual poster can be the same proportions as the printed research poster, but you have more leeway regarding the dimensions. Virtual research posters should fit on a screen with no need to scroll, with 1080p resolution as a standard these days. A horizontal presentation size is ideal for that.

A research poster presentation has a standard layout of 2–5 columns with 2–3 sections each. Typical structures say to separate the content into four sections; 1. A horizontal header 2. Introduction column, 3. Research/Work/Data column, and 4. Conclusion column. Each unit includes topics that relate to your poster’s objective.  Here’s a generalized outline for a poster presentation:

• Condensed Abstract 
• Objectives/Purpose
• Methodology
• Recommendations
• Implications
• Acknowledgments
• Contact Information 

The overview content you include in the units depends on your poster presentations’ theme, topic, industry, or field of research. A scientific or academic poster will include sections like hypothesis, methodology, and materials. A marketing analysis poster will include performance metrics and competitor analysis results.

There’s no way a poster can hold all the information included in your research paper or analysis report. The poster is an overview that invites the audience to want to find out more. That’s where supplement material comes in. Create a printed PDF handout or card with a QR code (created using a QR code generator ). Send the audience to the best online location for reading or downloading the complete paper.

What Makes a Poster Presentation Good and Effective? 

For your poster presentation to be effective and well-received, it needs to cover all the bases and be inviting to find out more. Stick to the standard layout suggestions and give it a unique look and feel. We’ve put together some of the most critical research poster-creation tips in the list below. Your poster presentation will perform as long as you check all the boxes.

The information you choose to include in the sections of your poster presentation needs to be cohesive. Train your editing eye and do a few revisions before presenting. The best way to look at it is to think of The Big Picture. Don’t get stuck on the details; your attendees won’t always know the background behind your research topic or why it’s important.

Be cohesive in how you word the titles, the length of the sections, the highlighting of the most important data, and how your oral presentation complements the printed—or virtual—poster.

The most important characteristic of your poster presentation is its readability and clarity. You need a poster presentation with a balanced design that’s easy to read at a distance of 1.5 meters or 4 feet. The font size and spacing must be clear and neat. All the content must suggest a visual flow for the viewer to follow.

That said, you don’t need to be a designer to add something special to your poster presentation. Once you have the standard—and recognized—columns and sections, add your special touch. These can be anything from colorful boxes for the section titles to an interesting but subtle background, images that catch the eye, and charts that inspire a more extended look. 

Storytelling is a presenting technique involving writing techniques to make information flow. Firstly, storytelling helps give your poster presentation a great introduction and an impactful conclusion. 

Think of storytelling as the invitation to listen or read more, as the glue that connects sections, making them flow from one to another. Storytelling is using stories in the oral presentation, for example, what your lab partner said when you discovered something interesting. If it makes your audience smile and nod, you’ve hit the mark. Storytelling is like giving a research presentation a dose of your personality, and it can help turning your data into opening stories .

Design Tips For Creating an Effective Research Poster Presentation

The section above briefly mentioned how important design is to your poster presentation’s effectiveness. We’ll look deeper into what you need to know when designing a poster presentation.

1. Font Characteristics

The typeface and size you choose are of great importance. Not only does the text need to be readable from two meters away, but it also needs to look and sit well on the poster. Stay away from calligraphic script typefaces, novelty typefaces, or typefaces with uniquely shaped letters.

Stick to the classics like a sans serif Helvetica, Lato, Open Sans, or Verdana. Avoid serif typefaces as they can be difficult to read from far away. Here are some standard text sizes to have on hand.

• Title: 85 pt
• Authors: 65 pt
• Headings: 36 pt
• Body Text: 24 pt
• Captions: 18 pt

If you feel too prone to use serif typefaces, work with a font pairing tool that helps you find a suitable solution – and intend those serif fonts for heading sections only. As a rule, never use more than 3 different typefaces in your design. To make it more dynamic, you can work with the same font using light, bold, and italic weights to put emphasis on the required areas.

2. Color Pairing

Using colors in your poster presentation design is a great way to grab the viewer’s attention. A color’s purpose is to help the viewer follow the data flow in your presentation, not distract. Don’t let the color take more importance than the information on your poster.

Choose one main color for the title and headlines and a similar color for the data visualizations. If you want to use more than one color, don’t create too much contrast between them. Try different tonalities of the same color and keep things balanced visually. Your color palette should have at most one main color and two accent colors.

Black text over a white background is standard practice for printed poster presentations, but for virtual presentations, try a very light gray instead of white and a very dark gray instead of black. Additionally, use variations of light color backgrounds and dark color text. Make sure it’s easy to read from two meters away or on a screen, depending on the context. We recommend ditching full white or full black tone usage as it hurts eyesight in the long term due to its intense contrast difference with the light ambiance.

3. Data Visualization Dimensions

Just like the text, your charts, graphs, and data visualizations must be easy to read and understand. Generally, if a person is interested in your research and has already read some of the text from two meters away, they’ll come closer to look at the charts and graphs. 

Fit data visualizations inside columns or let them span over two columns. Remove any unnecessary borders, lines, or labels to make them easier to read at a glance. Use a flat design without shadows or 3D characteristics. The text in legends and captions should stay within the chart size and not overflow into the margins. Use a unified text size of 18px for all your data visualizations.

4. Alignment, Margins, and White Space

Finally, the last design tip for creating an impressive and memorable poster presentation is to be mindful of the layout’s alignment, margins, and white space. Create text boxes to help keep everything aligned. They allow you to resize, adapt, and align the content along a margin or grid.

Take advantage of the white space created by borders and margins between sections. Don’t crowd them with a busy background or unattractive color.

Calculate margins considering a print format. It is a good practice in case the poster presentation ends up becoming in physical format, as you won’t need to downscale your entire design (affecting text readability in the process) to preserve information.

There are different tools that you can use to make a poster presentation. Presenters who are familiar with Microsoft Office prefer to use PowerPoint. You can learn how to make a poster in PowerPoint here.

Poster Presentation Examples

Before you start creating a poster presentation, look at some examples of real research posters. Get inspired and get creative.

Research poster presentations printed and mounted on a board look like the one in the image below. The presenter stands to the side, ready to share the information with visitors as they walk up to the panels.

With more and more conferences staying virtual or hybrid, the digital poster presentation is here to stay. Take a look at examples from a poster session at the OHSU School of Medicine .

Use SlideModel templates to help you create a winning poster presentation with PowerPoint and Google Slides. These poster PPT templates will get you off on the right foot. Mix and match tables and data visualizations from other poster slide templates to create your ideal layout according to the standard guidelines.

If you need a quick method to create a presentation deck to talk about your research poster at conferences, check out our Slides AI presentation maker. A tool in which you add the topic, curate the outline, select a design, and let AI do the work for you.

1. One-pager Scientific Poster Template for PowerPoint

A PowerPoint template tailored to make your poster presentations an easy-to-craft process. Meet our One-Pager Scientific Poster Slide Template, entirely editable to your preferences and with ample room to accommodate graphs, data charts, and much more.

Use This Template

2. Eisenhower Matrix Slides Template for PowerPoint

An Eisenhower Matrix is a powerful tool to represent priorities, classifying work according to urgency and importance. Presenters can use this 2×2 matrix in poster presentations to expose the effort required for the research process, as it also helps to communicate strategy planning.

3. OSMG Framework PowerPoint Template

Finally, we recommend presenters check our OSMG Framework PowerPoint template, as it is an ideal tool for representing a business plan: its goals, strategies, and measures for success. Expose complex processes in a simplified manner by adding this template to your poster presentation.

Remember these three words when making your research poster presentation: develop, design, and present. These are the three main actions toward a successful poster presentation. 

The section below will take you on a step-by-step journey to create your next poster presentation.

Step 1: Define the purpose and audience of your poster presentation

Before making a poster presentation design, you’ll need to plan first. Here are some questions to answer at this point:

• Are they in your field? 
• Do they know about your research topic? 
• What can they get from your research?
• Will you print it?
• Is it for a virtual conference?

Step 2: Make an outline

With a clear purpose and strategy, it’s time to collect the most important information from your research paper, analysis, or documentation. Make a content dump and then select the most interesting information. Use the content to draft an outline.

Outlines help formulate the overall structure better than going straight into designing the poster. Mimic the standard poster structure in your outline using section headlines as separators. Go further and separate the content into the columns they’ll be placed in.

Step 3: Write the content

Write or rewrite the content for the sections in your poster presentation. Use the text in your research paper as a base, but summarize it to be more succinct in what you share. 

Don’t forget to write a catchy title that presents the problem and your findings in a clear way. Likewise, craft the headlines for the sections in a similar tone as the title, creating consistency in the message. Include subtle transitions between sections to help follow the flow of information in order.

Avoid copying/pasting entire sections of the research paper on which the poster is based. Opt for the storytelling approach, so the delivered message results are interesting for your audience. 

Step 4: Put it all together visually

This entire guide on how to design a research poster presentation is the perfect resource to help you with this step. Follow all the tips and guidelines and have an unforgettable poster presentation.

Moving on, here’s how to design a research poster presentation with PowerPoint Templates . Open a new project and size it to the standard 48 x 36 inches. Using the outline, map out the sections on the empty canvas. Add a text box for each title, headline, and body text. Piece by piece, add the content into their corresponding text box.

Transform the text information visually, make bullet points, and place the content in tables and timelines. Make your text visual to avoid chunky text blocks that no one will have time to read. Make sure all text sizes are coherent for all headings, body texts, image captions, etc. Double-check for spacing and text box formatting.

Next, add or create data visualizations, images, or diagrams. Align everything into columns and sections, making sure there’s no overflow. Add captions and legends to the visualizations, and check the color contrast with colleagues and friends. Ask for feedback and progress to the last step.

Step 5: Last touches

Time to check the final touches on your poster presentation design. Here’s a checklist to help finalize your research poster before sending it to printers or the virtual summit rep.

• Check the resolution of all visual elements in your poster design. Zoom to 100 or 200% to see if the images pixelate. Avoid this problem by using vector design elements and high-resolution images.
• Ensure that charts and graphs are easy to read and don’t look crowded.
• Analyze the visual hierarchy. Is there a visual flow through the title, introduction, data, and conclusion?
• Take a step back and check if it’s legible from a distance. Is there enough white space for the content to breathe?
• Does the design look inviting and interesting?

An often neglected topic arises when we need to print our designs for any exhibition purpose. Since A0 is a hard-to-manage format for most printers, these poster presentations result in heftier charges for the user. Instead, you can opt to work your design in two A1 sheets, which also becomes more manageable for transportation. Create seamless borders for the section on which the poster sheets should meet, or work with a white background.

Paper weight options should be over 200 gsm to avoid unwanted damage during the printing process due to heavy ink usage. If possible, laminate your print or stick it to photographic paper – this shall protect your work from spills.

Finally, always run a test print. Gray tints may not be printed as clearly as you see them on screen (this is due to the RGB to CMYK conversion process). Other differences can be appreciated when working with ink jet plotters vs. laser printers. Give yourself enough room to maneuver last-minute design changes.

Presenting a research poster is a big step in the poster presentation cycle. Your poster presentation might or might not be judged by faculty or peers. But knowing what judges look for will help you prepare for the design and oral presentation, regardless of whether you receive a grade for your work or if it’s business related. Likewise, the same principles apply when presenting at an in-person or virtual summit.

The opening statement

Part of presenting a research poster is welcoming the viewer to your small personal area in the sea of poster presentations. You’ll need an opening statement to pitch your research poster and get the viewers’ attention.

Draft a 2 to 3-sentence pitch that covers the most important points:

• What the research is
• Why was it conducted
• What the results say

From that opening statement, you’re ready to continue with the oral presentation for the benefit of your attendees.

The oral presentation

During the oral presentation, share the information on the poster while conversing with the interested public. Practice many times before the event. Structure the oral presentation as conversation points, and use the poster’s visual flow as support. Make eye contact with your audience as you speak, but don’t make them uncomfortable.

Pro Tip: In a conference or summit, if people show up to your poster area after you’ve started presenting it to another group, finish and then address the new visitors.

QA Sessions 

When you’ve finished the oral presentation, offer the audience a chance to ask questions. You can tell them before starting the presentation that you’ll be holding a QA session at the end. Doing so will prevent interruptions as you’re speaking.

If presenting to one or two people, be flexible and answer questions as you review all the sections on your poster.

Supplemental Material

If your audience is interested in learning more, you can offer another content type, further imprinting the information in their minds. Some ideas include; printed copies of your research paper, links to a website, a digital experience of your poster, a thesis PDF, or data spreadsheets.

Your audience will want to contact you for further conversations; include contact details in your supplemental material. If you don’t offer anything else, at least have business cards.

Even though conferences have changed, the research poster’s importance hasn’t diminished. Now, instead of simply creating a printed poster presentation, you can also make it for digital platforms. The final output will depend on the conference and its requirements.

This guide covered all the essential information you need to know for creating impactful poster presentations, from design, structure and layout tips to oral presentation techniques to engage your audience better . 

Before your next poster session, bookmark and review this guide to help you design a winning poster presentation every time. 

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The Scientific Conference Poster Session: Tips for Success

By Guest Blogger

This post was contributed by Brittany L. Uhlorn, a PhD Candidate at the University of Arizona.

Perhaps you’re about to present your first scientific poster, but unsure how best to prepare. Maybe you’re a presentation veteran, but have difficulty answering questions. Or perhaps you’re simply attending, but uncertain how to capitalize on your experience. No matter the reason for attending, your preparation and day-of game plan will ensure you have the most beneficial scientific conference experience possible.

Tips for poster session presenters

Prepare for success.

You’ve put a great deal of thought into designing your poster – now it’s time to practice your delivery.

• Consider your audience : Who will be attending the session, and what is their background relative to your research? Tailor your language to your audience so that they can digest what you’re saying, provide constructive criticism, and ask thought-provoking questions. For example, if you’re a virologist presenting at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, you might consider including more background on how your virus of interest causes cancer, as well as therapeutic strategies to target it, than you typically would at a microbiology meeting.
• Create an outline : Write key bullet points for what you would like to say to help build your presentation. For example, when thinking about discussing a figure, jot down the question you were trying to answer, the method you used, the main result, and the fundamental takeaway. Writing these points will help you remember what to say and provide your audience with a clear picture of your work.
• Practice, practice, practice : Rehearse your presentation with people inside and outside your field. Your colleagues, lab mates, and PI can provide feedback on your technical presentation, but those outside of your field can point out places where you gloss over essential details or omit crucial background. Practice a few times while standing at your poster – it’s a different experience to practice while seated or with your poster on your computer screen than it is to pretend you’re standing at the session.

Present with confidence

Now that you’ve printed your poster and practiced a number of times, it’s time to expertly show off your science.  

• Prepare the night before : To avoid rushing out the door without your poster, place it by your keys a day in advance. Dress for the venue and professionalism of the conference, and remember to wear comfortable shoes, as you will likely be spending a few hours on your feet. Pack water and snacks to keep you energized throughout the session, bring extra clips to hold up your poster, and pack a few business cards to tack up next to your poster.
• Arrive early : You might be nervous before your poster session, or it may be held at an unfamiliar venue. Finding your poster board well ahead of time ensures you aren’t scrambling to tack up your poster seconds before the session begins. Plus, you’ll have extra time to practice at the actual venue.
• Introduce yourself : I always find it odd when I walk up to someone’s poster, and then he/she dives right into the background without an introduction. If someone approaches your poster, introduce yourself and ask about his/her background. This will give you a chance to determine how to tailor your presentation so that it can be understood by your audience.
• Use your poster as an aid : Have you ever gone up to a poster where the presenter spends the entire time talking to the poster, as opposed to engaging with you? Be sure to use your poster as a visual aid, not a crutch. Even the most prepared of us can find ourselves talking to our posters, so if you find yourself in this situation, take a moment to pause and ask your audience if they are following along. This will not only re-engage you with those who sought out your poster, but will also give you a chance to slow down and catch your breath before diving in to the next figure.
• Remember your outline : Instead of getting bogged down in the minutia or coming off as a broken record, remember the outline you created for yourself. Hit the key bullet points and elaborate if your audience seems captivated.

Expertly navigate questions

Answering questions is arguably the most difficult part of a poster session, but with a little preparation and a few deep breaths the day-of, you’ll handle them with ease.

• Anticipate questions : When practicing with your colleagues, ask them to brainstorm potential questions you may receive. People often ask about the relationship of your work to recently published papers or “hot topics,” so be sure to be well-read on the recent literature in your field.

Tips for poster session attendees

There’s nothing more overwhelming than stepping into a sea of posters – where do you begin?

Design a game plan

Prior to attending the conference, map out which posters you are interested in viewing. For most larger conferences, poster titles and abstracts are available online or in an app prior to the session, so bookmark which posters are of most interest to you a few days in advance. If you don’t have access to a list of posters until the day-of, take a moment to step aside to read through the list at the session so you can strategically use your time. Don’t have access to a list of posters at all? No problem! At the beginning of the session, take a lap around the posters and read the titles to find the ones you’d like to revisit.

Strategically traverse the sea of posters

If you come prepared with a list of posters of interest, then you’ve already set yourself up for success. But sometimes, attendees can get sucked in to thirty-minute-long presentations, which constrains the number of posters you can see. If you are pressed for time, limit yourself to five to ten minutes per poster. Ask the presenter to give the “elevator pitch,” of his/her project – kindly let the presenter know you are very interested in his/her work, and would enjoy hearing the highlights so that you can appreciate the impact of the project as a whole.

In addition to time constraints, there may be particular poster you are interested in viewing which has drawn a large crowd, making it difficult to see the actual poster or interact with the presenter. If you don’t have time to wait for the crowd to disperse, you can either seek out the presenter after the session or find him/her on social media or through their affiliations’ website. Time permitting, you can go back to the most interesting and popular posters at the end of the session.

Get in contact

See a poster you want to know more about? Interested in doing a postdoc in a presenter’s lab? Want to collaborate with a group who presented on a topic related to your research? Find a way to get in contact with the presenter after the session. Exchange business cards or jot down their name and affiliation from the poster heading to get in touch at a later time.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be geared for success at your next poster session! There many other tips and tricks for presenting at scientific conferences, so let us know your own ways to successfully navigate poster sessions with ease.

Many thanks to our guest blogger Brittany L. Uhlorn from the University of Arizona.

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Creating an Academic Poster: Home

Creating an academic poster.

Introduction:

Note:  Visit WSU Spokane's Printing Services page for PowerPoint poster templates.  Template are are available in standard sizes, both portrait and landscape orientations, and branded for the three Health Sciences Colleges (Nursing, Medicine, and Pharmacy). 

Key Features of an Academic Poster:

• Clear and Concise Title : The title should capture the essence of the research while being catchy enough to draw attention.
• Introduction or Background : This section provides context for the research, including the main research question and the hypothesis.
• Methodology : Briefly describes the methods used to gather data and conduct the research.
• Results : Visual representations such as graphs, charts, and tables are often used to display key findings effectively.
• Discussion or Conclusion : This section interprets the results, discussing their implications, significance, and possible limitations.
• References : Cites all sources of information used in the research in a concise manner.
• Acknowledgements : Recognizes contributions from others, such as advisors or funding bodies.
• Contact Information : Allows interested viewers to contact the researcher for further discussion or collaboration.

Design Considerations:

• Visual Appeal : Use of color, thoughtful layouts, and clear visual hierarchies that make scanning the poster easy.
• Readability : Text should be legible from a reasonable distance, typically using large fonts and concise language.
• Balance : Effective use of space, ensuring the poster is not too cluttered yet informative enough to provide a substantial understanding of the topic.

Academic posters are a popular method for researchers to share their work with the academic community, allowing for direct interaction and feedback, fostering networking and further discussion.

Using Images on the Poster

When including images in an academic poster, it's crucial to ensure that they enhance the presentation and communicate the research effectively. Here are key considerations to keep in mind when selecting and using images:

Relevance:  Images should be directly related to the content of the poster. Use visuals that illustrate or clarify the research findings, methods, or concepts being discussed. Irrelevant images can distract from the main message and reduce the overall impact of the poster.

Quality:  Images must be of high resolution to avoid pixelation when printed in large formats. Typically, images should have a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) when printed. Low-quality images can make the poster look unprofessional and can undermine the credibility of the research.

Legibility:  Ensure that any text within images (such as labels on graphs, charts, or diagrams) is legible. Font size in images should be large enough to be read from a distance that attendees will typically view the poster from, usually about 3-6 feet away.

Simplicity Images should be simple and not overly complex. Avoid cluttering visuals with too much information. Simplified and clear diagrams, charts, and graphs are more effective in conveying information quickly and effectively.

Color Use:  Use color strategically to enhance comprehension and draw attention to key parts of the image. However, maintain a consistent color scheme that aligns with the overall design of the poster. Be mindful of color blindness and avoid combinations that might make the poster difficult to read for color-blind individuals, such as red-green contrasts.

Labeling:  All images should be appropriately labeled with captions or titles that explain what the viewer is looking at. Captions should be concise but informative enough to allow the viewer to understand the image without needing additional explanation.

Source Attribution:  If images are not original (i.e., taken from another source), it's essential to provide proper attribution to avoid plagiarism and respect copyright laws. Make sure to have the right to use the images or obtain necessary permissions, and cite the source according to academic standards.

Layout and Integration:  Images should be well-integrated into the flow of the poster. Their placement should be logical, supporting the narrative of the research. They should guide the viewer through the research story in a logical and sequential manner.

Alignment and Proportion:  Maintain proper alignment and proportion of images in relation to the text and other content on the poster. Consistent margins, alignment, and thoughtful spacing contribute to a clean and professional appearance.

Ethical Considerations:  For research involving sensitive subjects or identifiable human subjects, ensure that any photographs or sensitive information have the necessary ethical approvals and consent for public display.

These considerations help ensure that images contribute effectively to the communication goals of an academic poster, enhancing the viewer's ability to quickly grasp and retain the essential elements of the research.

Poster Size

The dimensions of an academic poster can vary based on the requirements of the conference or event where it is being displayed. However, there are a few commonly used standard sizes. Here are some typical dimensions:

• 36 x 48 inches : This size is particularly common in the United States.It provides ample space for text, images, and graphics.
• 24 x 36 inches : This is a smaller option often used for smaller venues or when the printing capabilities are limited.
• Conference Guidelines : Always check the specific requirements of the conference or event. Most conferences will specify the dimensions to ensure uniformity and that all posters fit within the provided spaces.
• Content Volume : More detailed research with extensive data might require a larger poster size to accommodate all the information without appearing cluttered.
• Visibility : Larger posters are easier to read from a distance, which can be beneficial in a busy conference setting.

When preparing an academic poster, make sure to know the dimensions in advance before designing it, as resizing a finished poster can affect the layout and readability of your content.

Changing Slide Size in Microsoft PowerPoint

To identify and change the dimensions of a slide in Microsoft PowerPoint, you need to access the "Slide Size" settings, which allow you to customize the size to fit specific display requirements. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step in the latest versions of PowerPoint:

Identifying Current Slide Dimensions

• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Go to the “ Design ” tab on the Ribbon at the top of the screen.
• Click on “ Slide Size ” in the Customize group. This will show options such as ‘Standard (4:3)’, ‘Widescreen (16:9)’, and ‘Custom Slide Size’.If you click on "Custom Slide Size," a dialog box titled "Slide Size for" will open, which shows the current dimensions of your slides in either inches, centimeters, or pixels, depending on your settings.

Changing Slide Dimensions

• Follow the first two steps above to reach the “ Slide Size ” button.
• Click on “ Custom Slide Size… ” to open the Slide Size dialog box.
• In the dialog box, you’ll see options for width and height. You can manually input the dimensions you want for your slides in the width and height fields. Here, you can select from a list of predefined sizes or enter custom dimensions.
• Choose your preferred slide orientation for the slides (Portrait or Landscape) under the orientation settings in the same dialog box.
• Ensure Fit: Scales down content to make sure it fits the new slide dimensions.
• Maximize : Expands your content to fill the new slide size but may cut off content that doesn’t fit.
• Adjust your content if necessary. Changing the slide size can alter the layout of existing content, so you might need to manually adjust text boxes, images, and other elements to ensure that your presentation still looks as intended.

Export Slide to PDF

Exporting your academic poster from PowerPoint to a PDF while maintaining the original slide dimensions is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it to ensure your PDF looks just as intended:

Steps to Export a PowerPoint to PDF with Correct Dimensions

• Open your PowerPoint presentation that contains the academic poster.
• Click on the “ File ” menu in the top left corner of the PowerPoint window.
• Select “ Export ” from the list on the left side of the screen. If you're using an older version of PowerPoint, you might need to choose "Save As" instead.
• Choose “ Create PDF/XPS Document ” and then click on the “Create PDF/XPS” button. This option is directly aimed at saving your file in a PDF format.
• Where : Choose where you want to save the PDF.
• Filename : Enter a name for your PDF file.
• Save as type : Ensure it's set to PDF.
• Click on “ Options …” to access additional settings. This is a critical step to ensure your poster’s dimensions are preserved:
• Under Range, select " All slides " if your poster spans multiple slides (usually, an academic poster is just one slide).
• Check the box that says “ High quality (printing) ” to ensure the PDF is in the highest quality suitable for printing.
• In the Publish options, under Slide Size, you can specifically choose to use the slide dimensions you set in PowerPoint. Make sure it reflects your custom slide size if applicable.
• Ensure that “ Scale to fit paper ” is unchecked to maintain the original slide dimensions in the PDF. This setting is crucial as checking this box could distort or resize your poster to fit the standard paper size, which might not match your custom dimensions.
• Click “ OK ” to close the Options dialog box.
• Click “ Publish ” to create the PDF file.

Additional Tips Review Your PDF : After exporting, open the PDF to verify that all elements appear as expected and the dimensions are preserved. This check is especially important if the poster contains detailed graphics or specific formatting. Consider PDF Software Settings : If you're using third-party PDF software to view or print your file, ensure that the settings in that software do not alter the scale. For example, printer settings should be set to print at actual size, not fit to page.

Printing Your Poster

You can have your poster printed either at a commercial print shop, or at a WSU printing services office. The Pullman-based Printing and Design Services department offers a full suite of printing services. The Spokane-based Printing Services office offers academic poster printing and a limited suite of lamination and mounting services for print jobs with modest dimensions.

Before submitting a print job, ensure that:

• The dimensions of the file match the dimensions that you want printed. 
• The images are a sufficiently high quality to be printed at a large scale.
• You have identified the source of funding for the poster. Posters can be printed with personal funds, and at WSU print shops can also use a budget or grant code as applicable. 

Online Resources

• Preparing a Poster Presentation | American College of Physicians
• Creating conference posters: Structure, form and content Barker, E., & Phillips, V. (2021). Creating conference posters: Structure, form and content. Journal of perioperative practice, 31(7-8), 296–299. https://doi.org/10.1177/1750458921996254
• An Illustrated Guide to Poster Design Rose T. M. (2017). An illustrated guide to poster design. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 81(7), 6423. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8176423

Medical Images

• CDC Public Health Image Library
• MedPix MedPix® is a free open-access online database of medical images, teaching cases, and clinical topics, integrating images and textual metadata including over 12,000 patient case scenarios, 9,000 topics, and nearly 59,000 images.
• National Cancer Institute Visuals Online NCI Visuals Online contains images from the collections of the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Cancer Institute.
• National Eye Institute Media Library All photos and videos on this site belong to the National Eye Institute (NEI). Please credit ©NEI when you use any image or video from the library.
• National Institute of General Medical Sciences | Images and Video Gallery This is a searchable collection of scientific photos, illustrations, and videos.
• National Library of Medicine Digital Collections Digital Collections provides access to the National Library of Medicine's distinctive digital content in the areas of biomedicine, health care and the history of medicine. Our unique digital collections are freely available for download worldwide and in the public domain unless otherwise indicated.
• OpenI | NIH Open Access Biomedical Image Search Engine
• smart | Servier Medical Art high-quality medical illustrations and images to enhance your educational materials, research publications, and PowerPoint presentations? Servier Medical Art has over 3000 free, up-to-date medical images licensed as CC BY 4.0.
• The Visible Human Project The NLM Visible Human Project has created publicly-available complete, anatomically detailed, three-dimensional representations of a human male body and a human female body. Specifically, the VHP provides a public-domain library of cross-sectional cryosection, CT, and MRI images obtained from one male cadaver and one female cadaver. The Visible Man data set was publicly released in 1994 and the Visible Woman in 1995.
• Last Updated: Apr 26, 2024 2:24 PM
• URL: https://libguides.libraries.wsu.edu/posters

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Poster Presentation

Characteristics of a poster presentation.

• Poster presenters should dress professionally and understand all parts of their poster.
• Most poster presentations take place in a large room with dozens to hundreds of individual poster presentations occurring simultaneously.  
• A typical presentation lasts 5-15 minutes.
• Typical audience size for an individual poster presentation will be 1-5 people.
• It is acceptable for the audience to ask questions during a presentation.
• The presenter should use the poster’s figures and tables to communicate with the audience.

Excellent Presentations are Simple

The presenter is the scientist or engineer who conducted the research.   The presenter is an expert in that particular field and should be confident (but not arrogant) when presenting the research to their audience.   The presenter should understand everything that is in their poster (e.g., issue, topic, figures, tables, references).   The presenter should relax, speak clearly, start with the introduction, move through the methods, results and end with the discussion section.   The presenter should engage in conservation with the audience and answer their questions during the poster presentation.   The presenter should not read word-for-word from a script, but rather they should follow a general progression through their poster ( Fig. 17 ) that allows for active and organic discussion between them and the audience.    

Figure 17. Poster Presentation

Tips for Giving a Poster Presentation

• Practice your presentation several times before the poster event. Dress professionally. Your audience will be focused on your poster for 5-15 minutes so you do not have much time to capture their attention and tell your story.   Engaging figures, maps, and graphs will help capture their attention.  
• Focus most of your presentation on your figures and tables. Your audience will focus on figures, graphs, tables, and maps.   They rarely read the poster text.   If they read any text at all, it will likely be the abstract and figure captions so a presenter really should focus on figures and tables when they prepare for their poster presentation.  
• Speak clearly and know your topic.   Remember you are the expert, so you need to understand all parts of your poster.  
• Presenters should start their presentation ( Fig. 17 ) by introducing themself and moving onto the Title and Introduction sections.   Describe the issue and use figures to help explain the story.   Use maps to show the study area, use photographs of the organism or pollutant or issue, use graphs and tables to show patterns (e.g., population increased over past 5 years) and focus on important points.   Flow from one figure to the next, ending with the Discussion and Conclusion sections.   The presenter should point to the poster when they are talking about a specific figure, and use words and their hands to help explain each part of the poster.
• Allow your audience to participate, allow them to ask questions throughout your presentation ( Fig. 18 ).   Always be respectful of your audience.   Always try to answer their questions.   If you do not know the answer, the best thing to say is “I do not know the answer, but I can point to another study here in my references section where other scientists are working on this very question.” Engage your audience and show them where to find additional work (e.g., journal articles, names of scientists) about the topic.  
• Avoid using words like “stuff” and “things” and other general phrases like “this work was great”.   Give specific details because this demonstrates to the audience that you understand your topic.   Use the vocabulary words that you learned and explain these to the audience.   For example, rather than saying “This work was great for orangutans,” you could say, “This work was great because it was the first time that we observed orangutan feeding behavior in the wild and it allowed us to determine that female orangutans need 5,500 calories per day during their breeding season. Those females that obtained 5,500 calories per day were twice as likely to give birth.”
• Be prepared for a lively and dynamic event ( Fig. 19 ).   Poster events typically consist of dozens or hundreds of individual poster presentations occurring simultaneously in the same room.   These events are typically very loud and energetic.   Food and beverages are typically provided at the event.  
• Be flexible.   The audience will walk around to view as many posters as possible, stopping occasionally to view a poster and talk to a poster presenter about their research.   Some people may talk with the presenter for a few seconds, others may spend 15-20 minutes talking with a poster presenter.   Presenter-audience interactions will be rather informal and dynamic.  
• Read or download the poster guide and map prior to attending the poster event.   A poster program guide and poster map will typically be published ahead of the event so that the audience knows where to find each poster and the presenter knows where to set up their poster.  
• Wear comfortable shoes.   Posters are typically displayed on an easel and the presenter stands by their poster during the entire event, which can several hours.

Figure 18. Two-Way Communication is Key to a Successful Poster Event

All scientific posters follow a similar organization in terms of parts (i.e., Abstract, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, References) and layout (i.e., title and name at the top, 3-4 columns for content).   However, each scientific poster can be unique in terms of its font, color scheme, types of figures (e.g., chart, diagram, graph, map, photograph) and use of tables.   It is entirely up to the scientists to decide how they want to design their poster to best communicate their research with the audience.   Gallery 1 shows eight different scientific posters that were presented at a scientific conference.   As you look through Gallery 1 you can see that the posters are all similar in the way that they are organized but that each poster is unique in they way it is designed (e.g., color scheme, number and placement of figures, use of fonts).   While each is different, they all succeed in their goal of visually communicating the importance of their scientific research to an audience ( Gallery 1) .    

Figure 19. Poster Event

Gallery 1. Examples of Completed Scientific Posters

Scientific Posters: A Learner's Guide Copyright © 2020 by Ella Weaver; Kylienne A. Shaul; Henry Griffy; and Brian H. Lower is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Prepare for a Poster Session

• Introduction to Poster Sessions
• Components of a Poster Presentation
• Designing Your Poster
• Printing Your Poster
• Archiving Your Poster
• Additional Resources

Scholarly Communication Librarian

What is a poster session?

An overview of poster sessions.

A poster session is a venue in which researchers have the opportunity to share their work with a wide audience in the form of a poster presentation. Poster sessions are often held during conference, professional meetings, or during research days or symposia events. They generally take place in large rooms, and allow for a large number of researchers to present their work during a single session. Presenters often stand by their posters while attendees walk through the room and speak to researchers about their work. 

Image by David Eppstein - CC BY-SA 3.0.

Goals of a Poster Session

To get the most out of a poster session, it is beneficial to think about what your goals are a head of time - what do you hope to get out of the session? While individuals may have their own personal goals, poster session presenters should also adopt the following aims. 

• Get people interested in your research.
• Receive feedback to improve your work.
• Network - find future collaborators, advisors, or job opporutnities.

Components of a Poster Session

While the name "poster session" suggests that posters are the primary focus during poster sessions, posters make up only one component of a successful poster presentation. It's helpful to think of a poster presentation as consisting of three components:

• A presentation

To learn about the different roles of these three components, visit the Components of a Poster Presentation page . 

General Tips for Success

Dress professionally and comfortably : If you have doubts about standards of dress in your discipline, ask your advisor, mentor, or colleagues for advice. Wear something that is professional, but that also helps you feel confident. Wear comfortable shoes, you will be on your feet for an extended period of time. 

Arrive early : This gives you time to familiarize yourself with the venue, find the nearest restroom, water fountain, coffee shop, and settle in and get comfortable. Introduce yourself to the other presenters and talk to them about their research. 

Bring push pins, a black marker, and white out : Some events require presenters to bring materials (such as push pins) to mount their posters to the display stands. You can also bring white out and a black marker in case you notice any last minute typos on your poster. 

Practice your presentation : Prepare and practice a 1-2 minute oral presentation of your research prior to the event. Talk through your presentation aloud to practice your timing and enunciation. 

Stand near your poster : Make sure you are present to speak to attendees and answer their questions. 

Make eye contact and address all attendees : You may have more than one person come to look at your poster at once. Make sure you make eye contact with everyone, don't just focus on one person. 

Don't leave early : While the crowd may dwindle later in the session, it's a professional responsibility to stay by your poster for the duration of the event. 

• Next: Components of a Poster Presentation >>
• Last Updated: Feb 6, 2024 10:59 AM
• URL: https://libguides.wvu.edu/poster

Poster Presentations (at conferences)

Poster sessions are a popular means for sharing current research or the mechanisms of recent projects.

ALA Resources

Annual Conference resources - all 2015 Annual Conference Poster Proposals must be submitted by February 6, 2015.

• Poster Session Submission Site (site registration required)
• How to Submit a Poster Session
• General tips for submitting poster sessions
• Information for poster session presenters
• Poster session FAQ

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has specific instructions for their 2015 conference .

Hazard, Brenda. “ Poster Session Alphabet Soup .” C&RL News 67, no. 7 (July/August 2006).

ALA Emerging Leaders (2007 class) wiki page on posters , with sample sessions

Resources from other organizations on how to create a poster session

Block SM. 1996. " Do's and Don't's of Poster Presentation ". Biophysical Journal. 71, no. 6: 3527-9. Accessed 8 October 2013.

Colorado State University Writing Guides:Poster Sessions

Connor, Carol Waite. The Poster Session A Guide for Preparation . [Denver, Colo.]: Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, 1988.

Cranor, Lorrie. 1996. " Research posters 101 ". Crossroads. 3, no. 2: 13-16.

" Make the Most of Your Annual Meeting: How Do I Prepare My Poster? How Do I Give a Talk? " Biophysical Society Newsletter . January 2013. Accessed 8 October 2013.

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) Poster Session Basics

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• Published: 25 January 2021

The ABCs of academic poster presentation

• Tulsi Patel 1  

BDJ Student volume  28 ,  pages 14–16 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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Tulsi Patel , DCT1, Royal London Hospital, Barts NHS Trust

Academic posters are an excellent way to summarise and display your work

It is important to read the conference requirements carefully before preparing your poster

Adopt a clear, concise and easy to follow design

Preparing the poster in advance, practising your presentation and formulating answers to anticipated questions is essential

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Patel, T. The ABCs of academic poster presentation. BDJ Student 28 , 14–16 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-020-0173-3

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Published : 25 January 2021

Issue Date : January 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-020-0173-3

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• American Psychological Association
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Please join the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development for the Spring 2024 Workshop Briefings and Research Methods poster session. The Workshop in Sustainable Development allows undergraduate students to bridge the theoretical knowledge they have gained through their coursework in the natural and social sciences with a real-world, client-based project. Students will share project results with the University community at this event before final presentations with their clients. Following the Workshop presentations, there will be a poster session where students in SDEV 4101 Qualitative Research Methods will present their final projects.

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ABSN Student Connects Dermatology and Mental Health During Poster Presentation

Duke School of Nursing ABSN Student Alexandria Inthavanh’s research highlights the need for mental health screenings in dermatology to enhance patient care and address health disparities.

Inthavanh said her inspiration for the poster came from the high volume of new nurses entering the cosmetic and dermatology industry who do not consider mental health when consulting patients about their expected outcomes. “Mental health is one of the many reasons why patients decide to undergo any cosmetic procedure and providers oftentimes overlook the screenings when there may be an underlying cause that may need other psychiatric treatment.”

She added, “I hope individuals who work in the dermatology and aesthetic industry will consider using the Peak Consultation Method and the Body Dysmorphic disorder screening when treating their patients. By taking the extra step to screen patients, we can help prevent unnecessary cosmetics procedures or treatment.”

Inthavanh said the conference was spectacular and extremely educational and led her to realize the Duke School of Nursing has an opportunity to enhance its nursing education when it comes to teaching students about the skin. “I was able to sit on lectures about T-cell Lymphoma, Pediatric Dermatology, Psoriasis, and so much more.”

She has worked with Associate Professor Amie Koch , DNP, FNP-C, RN, ACHPN on the importance of screening for mental health concerns while in a dermatology setting and breaking the negative stigma behind mental health screenings in the Aesthetic and Dermatology fields.

Inthavanh said she was amazed by the magnitude of peers who informed her that mental health is not heavily spoken about in Dermatology or Aesthetics. “I hope to further my research and provide more primary prevention methods and awareness to this unspoken topic.”

She hopes to share this experience with her colleagues and believes it can pioneer a greater change for Duke in filling healthcare gaps. “Specifically, through my experience and continuing this research, I believe I can help fill gaps in mental health awareness in dermatology and nursing dermatology education in higher education institutions,” Inthavanh said.

A major part of Inthavanh’s work at DUSON is centered on conducting mental health screenings before a cosmetic procedure and she said she hopes to help eliminate associated health inequalities by doing so. “Many patients do not fully understand the benefits and risks of procedures and there is often a gray area. While presenting at the conference, I asked each individual ‘have you ever been screened at a dermatology office, MedSpa, or plastic surgeon’s office for mental health,’ and every single individual answered no,” she said.

She continued, “this is a cause for concern as patients who have mental health conditions may need other psychiatric measures. One argument is that there is a negative connotation when asking patients about their mental health in the dermatology and cosmetic industry as it can deter clientele and limit revenue.”

Inthavanh said as industry nurses, it is imperative that they break the negative stigma about losing clients and money and make mental health consultations a normality. By doing so, nurses can prevent unwarranted procedures, prevent addictions, and treat other concerns patients may have.

“In my work to reduce these inequities, as a fourth semester student in the ABSN program, I created the Aesthetic and Dermatology Students organization. This organization aims to bridge schooling and the professional industry and support students in their education in Aesthetics and Dermatology,” she said. “The organization provides educational resources, trainings with professionals, and conference opportunities.”

Inthavanh is a native of Atlanta and resides in Charlotte, N.C., with her husband Nash and their 2-year-old daughter, Desa.

Celebration of Learning 2024

May 8, 2024.

The annual Celebration of Learning showcases work by students, faculty and staff at Augustana.

This year's celebration on May 8, 2024, includes poster presentations, interactive sessions, panel presentations and special events.

Featured presenters include:

• Dr. Ann Perreau, Kierstyn Rogers '24, Brook Fieldman '24 and Christina Harvey '25, presenting on projects from the HEART-T (Hearing+Tinnitus) lab. (Olin auditorium, 10-11 a.m.)
• Dr. Kimberly Murphy, Adriana Reyes '25, Erik Bergren '25, Lorenzo Moreno '25,  Dani Roxas '25 and Zack Horve '26, presenting on a project partnering with Rock Island to replace lead drinking water pipes. (Olin auditorium, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
• Chef Joseph Yoon, presenting on his journey as a chef specializing in insect agriculture. (Olin auditorium, 2:30-3:30 p.m.)

Special events include:

• "Neurdfest," presented by Genevieve Berryman, Katey Clark, Breonna Culver, Bitanya Darge, Katie Frese, Emily Kastanes, Anna Killilea, Megan Markiewicz, Monica Perez, Zion Thomas, Sierra White, Dr. Shara Stough, Dr. Ian Harrington and Dr. Rupa Gordon. (Carlsson Evald Hall, 9-11 a.m.) "A People of Vision," presented by Dr. Sandra Boham, President, Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Mont. (Hanson Hall room 102, 10-11:15 a.m.)
• "Keeping Cool with Campus Kitchen" (Viking Plaza; rain location Brew by the Slough, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.)
• "Lifeboat Challenge," presented by ALIVE, Laurel Williams and Michelle Crouch (Wallenberg Hall, Denkmann, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.)
• "Reproductive Resources and Rights in the QC" (Old Main first floor, rotunda area, 2-4:30 p.m.)

Poster presentation sessions will be held in the Gävle Room, Gerber Center, in two sessions: 9-10 a.m. and 1-2:15 p.m.

Oral presentations are hosted in various campus locations, in four sessions: 10-11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., 1-2:15 p.m. and 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Schedule overview

Oral presentations

• 10-11:15 a.m.: Oral presentations, session I
• 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: Oral presentations, session II
• 1-2:15 p.m.: Oral presentations, session III
• 2:30-3:45 p.m.: Oral presentations, session IV

Poster presentations and exhibits

• 9-10 a.m.: Poster presentations, session I
• 1-2:15 p.m.: Poster presentations, session II
• All day: Senior Art Show 2024

Honors and achievements

• Student honors and awards
• Faculty achievements and publications

Featured presentations

Student-faculty presentation: "tales from the hear-t lab".

Dr. Ann Perreau, Kierstyn Rogers '24, Brook Fieldman '24 and Christina Harvey '25 10-11 a.m. Olin Center auditorium

The HEAR-T (Hearing+Tinnitus) lab, under the leadership of Dr. Ann Perreau, has developed a strong model providing a unique research experience to multiple undergraduate students. In this presentation, we will discuss the lab’s current research projects that includes development of remote counseling programs for patients with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis. Student researchers will share their experiences working on the Hyperacusis Activities Treatment-Online Study, which is a 3 year, NIH-sponsored clinical trial. Students will describe the steps involved in counseling and sound therapy in the study and their interactions with our first two cohorts of participants. We will conclude our presentation with a panel discussion with the student researchers to learn more about perceived barriers, opportunities for networking and mentorship, and student growth through undergraduate research.

Student research presentation: "Empowering communities: Students unite with Rock Island to develop a plan to replace lead drinking water pipes equitably"

Dr. Kimberly Murphy, Adriana Reyes '25, Erik Bergren '25, Lorenzo Moreno '25,  Dani Roxas '25 and Zack Horve '26 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Olin Center auditorium

Have you ever wanted to help your local community on a project to ensure that all residents have safe drinking water pipes? Augustana College and Rock Island worked together to respond to the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. The result was a local and interdisciplinary approach (Public Health, Economics, Geography, Public Communications, Business, Data Analytics, History, Environmental Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Biology, and GIS) to comply with the law. A group of research students will recount their journey undertaking a project of this scale, sharing anecdotes and insights. They will delve into the learning objectives they made progress on and reflect on the lessons learned from their hands-on real world experience.

Guest speaker: "Kitchen metamorphosis"

Chef Joseph Yoon 2:30-3:30 p.m. Wallenberg Hall (Denkmann Memorial Center, second floor)

Chef Joseph Yoon, a pioneering member of The Explorers Club and Chef Advocate for the UN's IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), leads global change as the founder of Brooklyn Bugs, and the Culinary Director for the Insects to Feed the World Conference. With over 300 days of touring across five continents and regular appearances in global media, he champions the immense potential of insect agriculture, helping to reshape its significance for humanity.

Discover the inspiring narrative of Joseph's evolution as a founder and entrepreneur, delving into the pivotal lessons he gleaned as a young adult that continue to fortify his resilience in navigating present-day challenges. Gain insights into the weighty responsibility accompanying a global platform, as Joseph shares his profound understanding of why uncovering one's purpose is paramount, and how unwavering conviction propels individuals forward on their life's journey.

Special events

"neurdfest".

Genevieve Berryman, Katey Clark, Breonna Culver, Bitanya Darge, Katie Frese, Emily Kastanes, Anna Killilea, Megan Markiewicz, Monica Perez, Zion Thomas, Sierra White, Dr. Shara Stough, Dr. Ian Harrington and Dr. Rupa Gordon

9-11 a.m. Carlsson Evald Hall 

The Neuroscience Program’s brain awareness outreach event, ‘NeurdFest’, is back for its seventh year. Since 2015 we have brought second grade students from Longfellow Elementary to campus to learn about the brain. For several of those years, the Longfellow teachers have prepared their students for the event by reading the book, Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It, written by JoAnn Deak and illustrated by Sarah Ackerley. While on campus on the morning of the Celebration of Learning, around 30 elementary students will learn about the general functions of the brain, how the brain engages with sensory information, how brain cells transmit information, how the brains of different animals compare, and, perhaps of greatest practical significance, why it is important to practice brain safety, all through a series of interactive exhibits. As facilitators of these exhibits, our student volunteers learn how to engage others with the academic discipline in which most of them have chosen to major and share their love of learning with others. The enthusiasm of students from both Longfellow and Augustana suggests that this annual outreach program will continue for many years to come.

"A People of Vision"

Dr. Sandra Boham, President, Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Mont.

10-11:15 a.m. Hanson Hall of Science, Room 102

A member of the Salish Tribe, Dr. Boham will talk about the experiences of the Salish, Kootenai and North Pend d'Orielle Tribes and about reasons for optimism about the future.  The tribes have been the victims of huge injustices perpetrated by the U.S. government, among the them the loss of most of their ancestral homelands as a result of the 1855 Hell Gate Treaty, the cultural impact of boarding schools established to destroy their culture, and an allotment system imposed upon them that deprived them of land on their reservation that, according to the Hell Gate Treaty, was "set aside . . . for [their] exclusive use." Yet they are a people of hope.  Dr. Boham will talk about their vision for the future.  This event is sponsored by the Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics.

"Keeping Cool with Campus Kitchen"

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Viking Plaza (rain location: Brew by the Slew, Gerber Center)

"Lifeboat Challenge"

ALIVE (Augustana Leaders in Vocational Exploration), Laurel Williams and Michelle Crouch

11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Wallenberg Hall, Denkmann

The Lifeboat Challenge is an annual Augustana tradition, a chance to hear some of your favorite professors make their cases for the importance of their discipline to the survival of the world. Each professor will be vying for the last seat in the proverbial lifeboat. What do their disciplines bring to the flourishing of the world? The audience will get to grill each professor with your toughest questions and ultimately vote on the one you find most compelling. Enjoy the fun and learn something about the deeply collaborative vision that emerges when various disciplines of knowledge interact with each other.

Reproductive Resources and Rights in the QC

2-4:30 p.m. Old Main first floor, rotunda area