April 9, 2010April 9, 2010Dr. Philip Farabaugh, Professor, Dr. Philip Farabaugh, Professor,

Department of Biological SciencesDepartment of Biological Sciences

Why give poster presentations?

To communicate with other researchers and the public to convey findingsto share ideas with colleagues

To learn how to organize and effectively present research data

Effective posters are:

Viewer-friendly Large typeface Informative subheadings

Written in short segments, not long paragraphs

Logical and orderly presentation of information

Easily understood -- no jargon or undefined acronyms

What??jar gon - “The specialized

language of a trade, profession, or similar group2”…

<computer jargon>2

ac ro nym - “A word formed from the initial letters of a name3”…

<WAC for Women’s Army Corps>3

2 Webster’s II New College Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company. (1999) pg.592.3 Ibid, p. 11

Tips for Effective Posters Make the poster presentation understandable to educated laypeople

Tips for Effective Posters

Define/explain all technical terms

Tips for Effective PostersUse a minimumfont size of

28ptor

LARGER

Tips for Effective Posters

Identify a “take home” message for the poster—the one thing you would like a visitor to remember

Tips for Effective Posters

Avoid long blocks of text Use small chunks of

information

(Hint: Edit, Edit, Edit to get to the core messages of the poster.)

STEP 1 - Create the Elements of Your Poster

Check: Can you read the title from 15-20 feet away?

Under the title, list the author(s), their department(s) and affiliation (UMBC)

Discuss author order with your collaborators

The Title of a Poster is the First Thing a Visitor SeesIt should be professional and attract visitors to your poster.

Poster ElementsAbstractOverview/backgroundStatement of

purpose/hypothesesDefinitions of termsMethodology/Materials

Findings/Data/Results

Graphs & FiguresInterpretation and

discussion of findings

Conclusions/Summary of major findings

Future Directions

Examples of Posters

Abstract

Abstracts should contain 300 words or less! Content:

Background Research question Brief description of design/methods Most important finding Conclusion

Tips for Effective PostersUse bullets and/or boldface to emphasize important information

Tips for Effective Posters

Minimize Text Maximize Illustrations and graphics

(Hint: A poster is not a research paper. You do not have to present everything you did.)

Remember to…

Acknowledge individuals (other than authors) who helped with or supported the project

Acknowledge organizations and agencies that supported the project financially or in other ways

Typical Funder Lines

“ This work was funded through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Education”

OR

“This investigation was supported, in part, by UMBC and the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites Program Award DBI-0139619.”

OR

Typical Funder Lines“This investigation was supported, in part, by UMBC and the National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health), Award 1R25DK067016-01.”

OR

“This investigation was supported, in part, by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service (NRSA) Award GM 08663 to the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U*STAR) Program at UMBC.”

Tips for Effective PostersReed over for errrors

nd ommisssions Use the cheek sppellling

feetures on youre komputer

FinallySearch the web for a

treasure trove of information about creating effective posters in your discipline

Ask your research mentor and other researchers in your department

Ask co-workers to review the poster - your poster reflects their work too.

STEP 2 - Plan the Poster Layout

URCAD size:3 feet 6 inches high

by 3 feet 10 inches wide

Plan the layout of the elements

Leave white It is not necessary to

fill the entire space

One Poster Layout

Not Recommended

Horizontal - sequential information in rows

Preferred Poster Layouts

Easier for viewers

Vertical- sequential elements in columns

For Visual Impact

Place the most important poster elements at eye levelfor the average viewer

Poster Layouts

Print out a draft of the poster to see if it will fit in the allotted space

Adjust accordingly

Poster Layouts

Mount each element on a piece of colored cardboard

(Hint: Some presenters number the backs of the mounted elements in sequential order)

Presenting the Poster

Consider a one-page handout that summarizes the study and gives your contact information.

Keep a notepad to record addresses of visitors who request more information.

Presenting the Poster

Dress in business attire (no jeans)Remove chewing gum!Be aware of all visitors, don’t just talk to your

friendsRelax and enjoy the opportunity to share your

research project

Presenting the PosterPrepare a 10 to 30 second introduction to

your research Include a “hook” to engage visitors Explain why this research mattersGive a one-to-two minute “tour”Point to relevant poster elements as you

speakEmphasize your “take-home” message

Stand beside your poster during your entire scheduled session - don’t block the view of your work

Important Notes

Undergraduate Research & Creative Achievement Day (URCAD)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

University Center Ballroom

Important NotesSet up your poster between 12 and 2 p.m. on

April 27 in the University Center Ballroom. You will be notified of your poster number by e-mail.

Remove your poster between 3:15 and 4:00 p.m on Wednesday, April 28.

Pushpins will be provided, as will a nametag (please wear it!).

Stand at your poster during your designated time; a schedule indicating presentation times is posted on the web.

Special thanks to Zoe Warwick, Ph.D., Kathy Lee Sutphin, Steven Miller, Shawn Bediako, Janet McGlynn, Laura Gardiner, and Katie Magee for contributions to previous versions of this presentation.