How to Prepare and Present a Computer Science Poster

John GreinerRice University

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Poster Session Challenges

• Audiences make decisions quickly

• Posters sometimes stand alone

• Audiences come and go as

presenters talk

• Poster must be accessible

– Show overall organization

– Show comparisons

• Poster must be comprehensible

• Speaker must attract others, adapt

to situation

Challenges Solutions

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Today’s Plan

• Textual

• Visual

• Oral

• Pragmatics

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Similar to a Technical Paper

Tell an interesting storyWhat’s your “news”?

• What problem are you solving?• What are your results/conclusions?• What sets your work apart?

– E.g., new algorithm or theoretical approach

• Why does your work matter? • How can your work be applied?

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Similar to a Technical Paper

Structure your story

• Say what you’re going to say Abstract• Say it Body & Results• Say what you said Conclusion

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Make “The News” Accessible

Using structure– Provide a “gist” somewhere (abstract, summary, overview)– Include problem statement or objective– Use specific headings

Using wording– Reduce jargon

Using visuals– Is it an image?– Is it a contrast? (old vs. new)– Is it a demonstration?

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Different From a Technical Paper

Space is at a premium

Interactivity is key

• Be concise – word choice, sentence fragments• Be precise – word choice• Pictures are often more effective than words• Omit unnecessary details

– MUST KNOW Use as your main focus– Good to know Add some– Nice to know Leave details for oral presentation

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If you design a poster that looks like this …

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Your audience will react like this

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The ideal anesthetic should quickly make the patient unconscious but allow a quick return to consciousness, have few side effects, and be safe to handle.

Ideal anesthetics:– Quick sedation– Quick recovery– Few side effects– Safe to handle

Complex Text to Clear TextComplex Text to Clear Text

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Complex Text to Clear Text

Next generation computer games cost approximately 20 to 30 million dollars, require one to three years of development, and may have a short life cycle in the market of only six weeks.

Next-gen game: Investment: $20M–$30M

Development cycle: 1–3 years

Life cycle: 6 weeks

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Think Visually

• Figures & Graphs

• Fonts

• Colors

• Layout

With lots of examples to discuss

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Figures Should Be Accessible & Self-Explanatory

Use tags and/or captions

Caption…

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Problems Producing Graphs & Pictures

• Size

• Resolution

• Colors

• Labels

• Units

• Chart junk

• Significant figures and error bars

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Before

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2.156 2.135

1

2.679 2.642

1

2.849

1.991

0

0.5

1

1.5

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2.5

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Run

tim

e R

elat

ive

to U

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lass

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Empty Loop Loop FieldOperation

Loop MethodInvocation

Microbenchmark

Microbenchmark Performance

Original ClassesModified ClassesModified Optimized

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After

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0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

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Empty Loop Loop Field Operation Loop Method Invocation

Ru

nti

me

Rel

ativ

e to

Un

mo

dif

ied

Cla

sses

Original Classes

Modified Classes

Modified Optimized

Microbenchmark Performance

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Before

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

0.5 1.25 2.5 4Time (hr)

Cel

l Den

sity

(cel

l/cm

2 )

Untreated Cells TC Treated Cells FN Treated Cells

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After

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Time (hr)

Cel

l Den

sity

(cel

l/cm

2)

Untreated Cells

TC Treated Cells

FN Treated Cells

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Textual Presentation Guides the Reader

• Scale expresses relative importance• Indenting shows subordination

– As in this example

• Color adds emphasis or coherence

• Meaningless font and color changeschanges are distracting

• Avoid low-contrast colors

• White space directs gaze

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Font Style and Size

• Title – about 6-8 words– 90 – 120 pt

• Headings – about 3 words– 36 – 48 pt

• Text– 30 – 36 pt

Sans serif fonts best in large scale – postersSerif fonts best on small scale – papers

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Left-to-Right in Columns

Like a paper, flows top to bottom, left to right

Title & Authors

Title & Authors

ResultsMethods

Goals

Problem Table 1

Conclusions

Fig 2

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Left-to-Right in Rows

Title & Authors

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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Centered Image & Explanations

Title & Authors

Abstract

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Side-by-Side Compare & Contrast

Title & Authors

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Details Matter!

• Use consistent formatting

• Check grammar & spelling

• Include contact info

• Use a correct bibliography

• Give credit to others

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Connect with the Audience

Greet audience.

Why are they interested?

What are their backgrounds?

How will they benefit?

What are their questions?

Prepare 30 second, 2 minute, and 5 minute talks.• Different levels of interest• Different backgrounds• Be able to summarize key points in 2-3 sentences.• Be able to start from any section.

Reinforce key points.

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Communicate with Confidence

• Stand up straight• Integrate gestures• Don’t block view of

poster• Speak up

• Be enthusiastic• Maintain eye contact• Adjust pacing

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Corporate Affiliates Day Specifics (2009)

Deadlines• By Oct 1: Sign up online with abstract:

https://cohesion.rice.edu/Services/EventReg/?event=CSA9

• By Oct 8: Submit poster for printing• Oct 15: Corporate Affiliates day

Getting help from me• Feedback on draft posters• 1-on-1 presentation coaching session

– Your poster/demo should be done!

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Corporate Affiliates Day Specifics (2009)

• Any size, but mounted on 48”x48” board• Mounted with velcro (provided) or pins

• Posters judged on 3 main criteria:– Technical novelty– Poster design– Oral presentation

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Practicalities

Editing:– LaTeX, PowerPoint – many templates online, or use a friend’s

Printing:– Plotters in Earth Science: http://terra.rice.edu/videos/– Plotter in library: http://library.rice.edu/services/dmc/resources/peripherals/printers/

hp-5500ps-guidelines/– Plotters in Mudd Building: https://docs.rice.edu/confluence/display/ITTUT/Plotters

– University Copy Center in the RMC– One plot/student paid for Corp. Affiliates – email rxg@ for fund #

– FedEx (2455 Rice Blvd.): http://www.fedex.com/us/office/marketing/signsbanners/posters/packages.html

– Relatively expensive! (roughly $70 with white background)– Can print drafts in low resolution / matte (still fairly expensive).

– Takes time – plan ahead.

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Contact info

• John Greiner, greiner@

• More design information at– www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj

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Better organizationBut distracting color contrasts