POSTER PRESENTATIONS. Graduate School 3 rd floor Sherfield Building South Kensington campus.

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1 POSTER PRESENTATIONS Graduate Schl 3 rd flr Sherfield Building Suth Kensingtn campus

2 Pster presentatin Cntents Pster presentatins Intrductin Planning What is a pster presentatin? Why? Factrs t cnsider Refine yur message Organise yur infrmatin Design t attract Clur Space Text Graphics Other tips Yu and yur pster Assess yur pster Appeal Message Visuals Reference list Other sftware fr pster design Acknwledgements Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

3 Pster presentatins 1 Intrductin This nline help sheet is intended as back up t the wrkshps and webinar prvided by the Graduate Schl. It des nt replace the detailed and practical infrmatin given in these wrkshps, by tutrs r supervisrs. It is general guidance and readers shuld nte that exceptins t the rules can be effective; it is strngly recmmended that yu lk at psters designed by staff and students in yur Department/Divisin. Instructins frm the rganisers vary in terms f the size / rientatin f pster yu are required t prduce. There may als be sme specific Departmental / Divisinal / Centre requirements. T find ut mre see yur student handbk, cnsult yur Directr f Pstgraduate Studies (DPS), pstgraduate tutr, r pstgraduate administratr. If yu have difficulty lcating these please cntact graduate.schl@imperial.ac.uk 3 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

4 Pster presentatins 2 Planning 2.1 What is a pster presentatin? Psters are a way f cmmunicating yur infrmatin, they represent the essence f yur tpic and are an aid t a discussin. A pster presentatin is an pprtunity t: Present selected results and infrmatin t peple at a cnference and/r public display Highlight cnclusins, relevance and imprtance f yur wrk Discuss yur wrk and get feedback Perhaps win a prize 2.2 Why? T infrm, engage peple and attract interest in yur wrk T advertise yur department, university, research grup and yurself T make new cntacts fr cllabratin and jb T add t yur CV 2.3 Factrs t cnsider Pster frmat specific t a cnference Venue requirements (e.g. size and shape f pster, space prvided, regulatins re fnt and graphics) Yur audience will nt apprach yu if yur tpic r theme is nt clear frm ~ 3 metres. And als think abut: 1. Defining the audience t target the infrmatin fr the abstract and pster. Yu have ~3 secnds t attract, ~30 secnds t secure attentin by cnveying an verall understanding f yur message. If they read it, they ll give it ~5 minutes. They will interact with yu s bear in mind yur behaviur and bdy language can affect this. 2. Submitting an abstract ahead f yur research: Fllw guidelines and deadlines Clear and cncise: peple will read the abstracts t decide which psters t see Data? Aim t include nly cnfirmed findings, preliminary findings can als be included with cautin 4 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

5 Pster presentatins 2.4 Refine yur message Add the take hme message and implicatins In the 5-minutes-reading time, we can read max 1000 wrds ( with figures). Thus, decide n the main pints t cmmunicate and level f detail: try t be clear and cncise. Tip: Select a statement, phtgraph r diagram as fcal pint and then clarify yur key message. This will als attract audience attentin. When refining the cntent, cnsider yurself as a viewer: What wuld make yu stp and lk at a pster: a clear and well-presented pster, nice images, gd science, ther peple standing by the pster,...? Questins yu may have in mind: What is this abut? Why is it imprtant? Des it have an impact n me and/r my wrk? Can I be bthered t read it? And t talk t the presenter? 2.5 Organise yur infrmatin Prepare an utline and divide infrmatin int main sectins: Title: it shuld encapsulate yur main message and headline the results r cnclusins, cntributrs, rganisatin(s), cntact inf. It shuld be shrt and snappy (use a subtitle if necessary), as it will be what peple lk at first, after the pictures. Aim: clear and cncise aim/hypthesis/bjectives. Intrductin: quick verview f pster (bullet pints may be useful). Methds: if it is a critical part f the pster, write a brief descriptin f prcesses and prcedures. Yu may cnsider the use f a flwchart. Results: utcmes, findings, data (may be best as simple figures, with key pints highlighted). Cnclusin: summary, significance f results, a few imprtant pints (d nt discuss, save that fr face-t-face cntact). Citatins and Acknwledgements: in shrt. Yu may subdivide these sectins but keep the pster structure simple with sectins well delineated. Have a lk at previus psters in yur Department/Divisin and the Imperial Cllege Lndn templates. 5 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

6 Pster presentatins ws/psters/cmpetitinpsters 3 Design t attract The pster needs t be easy t fllw withut the need fr excessive explanatin. Have a lgical and cnsistent layut s that it is easy fr the reader t find what they want. 3.1 Clur Clurs and backgrunds shuld highlight, define and assciate infrmatin; they shuld nt detract frm yur infrmatin. Clurs lk different n screen than in print: check by printing in A4 frmat. Avid: excessive use f dark clurs, t many/vivid clurs, watermarks, dminating phtgraphs r busy patterns as backgrunds. It can be difficult t read sme clur cmbinatins. Fr infrmatin n clur visin deficiency see Space Use white space t guide the reader and fcus attentin n key elements The eye lks fr edges: align phtgraphs, headings, text and axes Generally in an A0 pster: tw clumns prtrait; three clumns landscape Leave 3 cm between clumns; leave 4 cm arund the inside edge f yur pster as printers d nt print t the edge f the paper Leave ~30-40% white space If yu have the chice between prtrait r landscape, sme find landscape psters easier t read than prtrait. 3.3 Text Write frm tp t bttm and left t right, left aligned Clumns guide readers thrugh the directin f yur infrmatin Main title: ~ 100 pint Arial, readable at 3 metres Bdy text: ~24 pint Arial (print a versin in A4: if yu can read the text easily, it is the right size) 6 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

7 Pster presentatins Fnts: sans serif (e.g. Arial and Helvetica); sme serif fnts such as curier are still used fr specialist detail Text and titles written entirely in UPPER CASE are harder t read than nrmal script Avid using mre than tw fnts and tw clurs fr the text. 3.4 Graphics Graphics shuld be attractive, clear and specific. Aim fr 30-40% graphic cntent Where pssible use graphics t shw visually what was dne: add value, may be easy t interpret and als attract nn-specialists. Prvide clear and cmplete captins: graphs and images must stand alne Phts, diagrams, graphs r charts shuld be 13 x 15 cm (crp/enlarge t fcus attentin n significant details) Graphs: clear titles, minimum gridlines, avid 3D effects and remember fnt size Tables are useful fr cmparisns f small data sets: clear and simple design, layut and fnt Phtgraphs: check cntrast and clurs in real media, prvide scale, cnsider use f brders, 300 dpi is adequate fr 13 x 15 cm phtgraphs Flwcharts: useful in methds sectins; use standard symbls Save the Cllege lg as a vectr image (r check the bitmap fr distrtin/pixilatin when enlarged) 3.5 Other tips Find ut where yur Department/Divisin generally prepares psters Cnsider the printer s accepted pster file frmats (e.g. PDF, PwerPint, Adbe Illustratr) If using Wrd r PwerPint embed all pictures, figures and graphs (using Insert/Object rather than Cpy/Paste) t prevent mvement/lss f images Cnsider utlining text, bxed tiles and sub titles, imprt lgs Check all images in Print Preview Print yur pster in clur n A4, t make sure that it is clear t read Pster paper quality used may vary Cnsider laminatin (it aids prtectin, but is heavy, expensive and can be difficult t hang): glss paper may be adequate Cnsider transprt f the pster nce cmplete 7 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

8 Pster presentatins 4 Yu and yur pster Practice yur pster several times with clleagues; aim fr 3 minutes maximum t deliver the imprtant pints. Stand t ne side f yur pster, lk welcming, relaxed and enthusiastic. Use yur pster as a visual aid, use eye cntact and invite cmment frm everyne. Answer questins, enjy discussins, d nt be defensive, listen and learn frm critical cmments, and take addresses t send mre infrmatin Arrive early, bring with yu: business cards, handuts, summary, mini-psters, dems, illustratins, pin up cpies f papers. If yu are unable t stand by yur pster fr any reasn, ensure that yur cntact details / pht is visible t enable cntact at a later pint. Pin up a sheet fr visitrs t write a message and their address. 5 Assess yur pster Have smene frm yur target audience (e.g. peers, a pst-dc r yur supervisr) evaluate yur pster befre the final versin and presentatin. 5.1 Appeal Wuld yu stp t lk at this pster at a pster sessin? Is the title shrt and attentin grabbing? Is the subject matter clear? Is the layut visually appealing and des it guide the audience? Des the pster target a specific audience (r if a large meeting a sectin f the audience)? Is the pster well rganised? 5.2 Message Is the pster easy t scan-read? Is the infrmatin and purpse immediately apparent? Wuld yu read the text n this pster? Have yu cnsidered yur audience requirements? Is the title clear and infrmative? Are the aims and cnclusins clear? 8 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

9 Pster presentatins Is the subject matter clear and cncise (text shrt, cntent rich)? Is there a lgical flw t the infrmatin? Can yu find relevant infrmatin easily? Is the text readable (linguistic difficulty / des it have t much scientific jargn)? Is the text legible (fnt, size, clur and spacing)? Is there t much/little data? Des the title bar include the authrs names, and the University identifier? 5.3 Visuals Are the key graphics large enugh t be seen frm 3 meters away? Are the graphics attractive, relevant and apprpriate? D legends and/r captins guide the viewer? Is there adequate clear space? Are sectins clearly defined? Have items been aligned? Have yu cnsidered: number f graphics, use f clur, fnt size and type Have yu thught abut yur behaviur and appearance? 9 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

10 Pster presentatins 6 Reference list Advice n designing scientific psters: Elements f style: Giving a Gd Scientific Presentatin: Hess, G. R. (2004) Effective Scientific Psters: Quick Reference: University f Guelph. Effective Pster Design: University f Kansas. Designing Effective Psters: 7 Other sftware fr pster design [Online material accessed 9/2017] 8 Acknwledgements This help sheet has been cmpiled with tips frm external cnsultant t the Graduate Schl, Luise Barn and frm academic staff: Bernadette Byrne, Geffrey Kemball-Ck, Paul Langfrd and Carl Patersn. 10 Graduate Schl Imperial Cllege Lndn 2017

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