1 / 49

Characteristics of a Good Scientific Poster MBRS-RISE Summer 2009

Characteristics of a Good Scientific Poster MBRS-RISE Summer 2009. Dr. Gail P. Taylor Asst. PD MBRS-RISE University of Texas at San Antonio Rev 6/09. Acknowledgements. ABRCMS poster Guidelines. http://www.abrcms.org/posterguidelines.asp

abdul-haney
Download Presentation

Characteristics of a Good Scientific Poster MBRS-RISE Summer 2009

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Characteristics of a Good Scientific PosterMBRS-RISE Summer 2009 Dr. Gail P. Taylor Asst. PD MBRS-RISE University of Texas at San Antonio Rev 6/09

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

  3. What is a Scientific Poster? • “Stand alone” summary of research • Allows for “Visually augmented” discussion • ~5 minutes • Few viewers at a time • Interactive

  4. Where are Posters Used? • General – Poster days, Symposia • Tack up poster • Stand by poster (1-3 h) • Viewers browse and interact • Conferences • Abstract submitted • Limited orals (15 min ea) • Increased opportunity for presentation • Time/location included in program • Hallways • Often posted outside labs after presentation

  5. Poster Benefits • Research presentation • Idea sharing • Practice public speaking • Opportunity for teaching and learning • Deepens understanding of topic • Represents you and you mentor • Demonstrate expertise • Demonstrate attention to detail • Builds CV • Create collaborations

  6. Who is Your Audience? • People in your field • Will read even if bad • People in related fields • Easily persuaded to view • Previously uninterested passers by • Can be attracted by a good poster

  7. Designing Your Poster

  8. Approaching Poster Design • Consult rules of conference • Create a storyboard • Visually appealing • Primarily image driven • Simply and tightly written

  9. Consult Rules of Conference • Size Max (board size) vs Size Requirement • Abstract number • Abstract in or out • Contact Information • Section headings • Font size • Possible “sentence case” in titles • http://www.abrcms.org/page05d.html

  10. Create a Storyboard • Rough paper or mental sketch of your poster • Select/design figures/tables • Results and possibly Intro or Methods • Estimate space that will be needed • Select number of columns • Average 4 (range 3-5) • 36”x54” good for 4 column • 36”x48” good for 3 column • >42” tall is quite big • Choose headings desired • Abstract, Introduction, Results, etc • Use bulleted or numbered lists

  11. Should be Visually Appealing • Understand reader “gravity” • Have an obvious flow • Headings • Numbers • Use white space to organize • Neutral backgrounds

  12. Visually Appealing II • Carry information with colorful images and figures • Balance your text and images • Use very large font for title (1-2” high) • Use at least 20 pt text for body text • Read 4-8 feet away • Figure lettering must also be large enough! • Can make abstract, references, acknowledgements smaller • Don’t vary “Intro and Results” font size or type • Don’t use “all caps” • Format text to prevent sub- or superscripts from altering spacing

  13. Primarily Image Driven • Must be “stand alone” • Visitor will NOT read poster if you are there • You will “walk” visitor through poster • Poster provides visual aids as you talk • Can create Methods flow chart • Results as figures (tables if necessary) • You point at and describe your results

  14. Poster Content

  15. Simply and Tightly Written • Minimize writing and maximize visuals • But…must stand alone • Avoid long sentences and paragraphs • Can use figure legends/captions as text • Assess every sentence and word • Put related text and images near one another • *** Your Mentor is Always Right ***

  16. Title • Length and text style determined by conference • Optimally, identical to “paper” title: • Very brief summary of research • Omits “A study of,” “Investigations of,” etc • Put species studied • Put limiting information • Avoid “cute” or abbreviations • May or may not give results • Topic – Effects of phenobarbital on learning in the…. • Conclusive – Phenobarbatal diminishes learning in the… • Helps people to choose which posters to view • Ex: Effect of Owner Education Level on Number of Cats per Household • Ex: FGF-2 Induces Regeneration of the Chick Limb Bud

  17. Names and Affiliations • Names • Department, University, Centers, etc • Address of Univ. (option) • Email Address (may be required) • Phone number (may be required) • Logos for Universities, Depts, Centers

  18. Abstract • May not be required • Placed in upper left of poster body • Preferably turned in for abstract book • Provide redundant information on poster • Approx. 300 words, 2500 characters • Use conf. requirements • Concise as possible • Content: Mini paper • Intro with Purpose (2-3 sentences if possible) • Hypothesis (req for student conferences; one sent) • Methods (2-3 sent) - general • Results (2-3 sent) • Important data • Significance, mean values, n, SD • Discussion/Conclusions (2-3 sent) • Acknowledgement (Funding source; 1 sent)

  19. Creating the Abstract • Short but time-consuming • Very information-dense, but simply formatted • Write “long” and pare down if needed • Analyze one sentence at a time • Each sentence has purpose • Each sentence logically follows another • Use plain English wherever you can • Use active voice when you can • State only your most important conclusion(s) • There is not good writing, only good rewriting

  20. Introduction • Needed even if Abstract is present • Or Background • Get viewers interested! • Reason you chose to study • Foundation for your work • General topics to specific • Make as brief as possible • Equiv. to 1 double spaced 12 pt page • Usually contain citations/references (cite!) • Include hypothesis • Generally completes first column

  21. Purpose (optional) • Or…Objective, Aim, Goal • Why are you doing? • May include a hypothesis here or in Introduction

  22. Materials/Methods • Text with subheadings • Can include a flow chart to summarize • May include citations • Make sure to include: • subjects • experimental design • drugs and equipment used • statistical methods

  23. Results • Largest section • Often two middle columns • Experiments- what you found • Don’t present raw data • Make Image-based; use few words • Maximize use of Figures • Make them simple • Must be easily seen • Make all lines wide enough • All text large enough! • Consistent across poster

  24. Results Cont: • Minimize use of tables • Difficult to grasp quickly • Can use figure legends/captions as text • 1-2 paragraphs for each image

  25. Conclusions • Or discussion or summary • Summarize “take home” findings • How did hypothesis work out? • Tie back to real world problem • Why Important • Very few words • Bullets good • Bigger font if needed

  26. References • If cited, must include reference • Generally “short” (title optional) • Can make smaller if needed

  27. Acknowledgements • Should be included • Thank people • Mentor • Labmates • Technical assistance, etc. • Reveal possible conflicts of interest • Identify funding utilized while doing – McNair Scholars, RISE, etc. • Can be smaller than rest of text

  28. Creating the Poster

  29. Software • Actual layout: • Powerpoint (one big slide) • Pagemaker • Canvas • Illustrator • Quark • Ask print shop about requirements • Print directly or convert to pdf • Images (compatible with printer driver!) • Photoshop • MS Photo editor • Tables/Graphs • Directly from Office (Excel or Word)

  30. PowerPoint • Has 56” maximum dimension • Create at full size (or nearly so) to prevent pixelation • Set page size to desired size

  31. Poster Templates… • Sample posters can be seen online • google search • A “template” can be found at: • http://www.utsa.edu/mbrs/resources.htm

  32. Use standard formats .jpg, .gif, .tiff, .tif, .bmp Watch resolution of photos 72 dpi vs 300 72 dpi will look pixelated on a poster 230 dpi prints like a photo Insert high dpi photos Make them relatively large Stretch to correct size Pictures

  33. Capturing Images off of the Web • Problems- resolution (72 dots per inch) • Okay for slides • Problem on print/poster • Find high DPI (230+ DPI or huge) images • In browser • Rt click on image • Save image/picture as: • Note image name • Note location where saved • Insert as described before

  34. Capturing Screen Shots • Get what you want on screen • Make it as large as possible • Press the PrtScn button (top right keyboard) • Open Start/Programs/Accessories/Paint • Select Edit/Paste (yes to enlarge bitmap – the whole screen appears) • Use the selection cursor (shown right) to choose the desired area • Edit/copy • Click where you want image pasted, and paste.

  35. Good Ways to Insert… • Use Insert (shown) • Picture (or whatever)

  36. Enlarging Images/Tables/Figures • To enlarge proportionally: • Click on image • Put cursor on corner  • Left click and slide diagonally

  37. Additional Info • Insert individual text boxes • Text • Labeling • Right click on objects for sizing and formatting • Turn green dots for rotation • Drawing tools can order objects • Drawing tools can align objects • Great for sizing and location on poster!

  38. Presenting the Poster

  39. Plan – Flow I • Opening sentences • Name, school, degree seeking, laboratory mentor • What circumstances for research? • Flow to introduction • Don’t refer to text, do refer to images • Why important? • Hypothesis

  40. Plan – Flow II • Move to Methods • Briefly summarize • Point at figures • Move to Results • Longest section • Indicate at beginning if did not work • Walk thru all figures • Transition to Conclusions • Say Conclusions • Acknowledgements (optional) • Any Questions?

  41. Plan – Transitions • MAKE SURE TO PRACTICE! • Develop 5-10 minute presentation • Know first sentence • What to say for each figure • Transitions between figures • What to point at for each figure

  42. Practice • Finish early enough to practice • Practice with labmates and laymen • Stand to one side and point • Run through ENTIRE poster • Memorize key points! • Pause long enough for them look at figure • Know where you are going with each figure! • Know what questions may be asked…. • Can practice them

  43. Transporting Poster • Buy tube for rolling • Do not be separated from it • Plane • Hotel • Carry it yourself • Have it also in electronic format • Do not leave it at home or in car trunk

  44. Supplemental Materials • Mini-poster printed out • Poster repair kit • Pins • Business cards • Water • Notebook

  45. Now…on to the real presentation! • Dress for situation • Conference – suit…or minimally khaki's • Comfortable shoes • Be there on time! • Have Business Cards • Have mini-posters • Have friend there to help • Water bottle • Don’t leave unless it is very important to do so (if so, leave a friend there momentarily)

  46. First Contact • Stand to side of poster • Take initiative • Smile, but stay near poster • If they come closer (~3-4 feet) • Say, “Hello” and shake hands • Give name • Ask them, “Would you like me to walk you through my poster,” or similar • Give title • Mention mentor’s lab and context of research. • (Optional) Ask if they are familiar with this field of research • No- More introduction, careful with acronyms • Yes- Can go more quickly through intro Then…Move into Introduction…

  47. Walking them through it • Proceed as planned, above • Be friendly • Don’t sound like you’ve memorized • Be excited about your work • Remember to refer to your poster! • They may interrupt with questions • Give extra information only if they ask

  48. Extras • Networking – write down ideas and names! • Don’t be discouraged if only a few come!

  49. Coming Home Again • Keep promises that you’ve made • Drop emails to folks whom you’ve met • Hang poster outside of lab

More Related