Creating Scientific Posters By Lana K. Johnson lanakoepke.wordpress.com
Justin McMechan University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Poster presentation process Planning Write content Gather images Design Review lanakoepke.wordpress.com Print Present
Poster presentation process Planning By 1-5-13 Write content By 1-5-13 Gather images By 2-1-13 Design By 2-14-13 Review Timeline 2-19-13 Print 2-26-13Present
Poster presentation process Planning Audience
Space and format specifications
Poster presentation process Planning Content + Layout + Design = Great Poster
Poster presentation process Planning Write & develop content
What s your story?
Everything on the poster must help convey your message.
Use active voice The office microwave was blown up by someone. (passive) Lana blew up the microwave. (active)
Title Short 10 words or less Comprehensible Compelling Sentence case No punctuation
Authors and affiliations Research investigators Affiliations
Headers
Introduction Why was the research initiated?
Methods Briefly describe experimental design and equipment
Results/Data Analysis Outline results Use graphs and diagrams
Conclusions Take home message?
Literature Cited
Acknowledgements Give credit where credit is due
More Contact information Websites QR codes
Edit, Edit, Edit Omit anything not essential Reduce sentence complexity Graphs, photos, diagrams
Edit, Edit, Edit Information correct? Check spelling and grammar Avoid abbreviations cross-references jargon
Text Have others edit and review content
Presentations largely stand or fall on the quality, relevance, and integrity of the content if your words or images are not on point, making them dance in color won t make them relevant. Audience boredom is usually a content failure, not a decoration failure Edward Tufte Leader in Visual Communications
Poster presentation process Planning Write content Gather & create images
Graphics
Edward R. Tufte
Photographs Add thin border Print at 150-200 dpi
Graphs Easy to read from distance Only show most important data
Graphs Don t use legends
Graphs Don t use legends Use horizontal Y-axis label
Graphs Use Figure numbers
Graphs
Clipart
Logos Vector Bitmap
Quick Response (QR) Code
Poster presentation process Planning Write content Gather images Design
Grab people s attention! Great posters use: Well-told research story Limited text Bold, intriguing graphics Clear visual flow Clean lines Plenty of white space
Grid system 10-12 inches
Grid layout Crystal Ramm University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Flow of information on a poster Title
White space
Color Travis Prochaska University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Colors should be: Subtle Light or muted backgrounds with black text
Colors should be: Bright colors Accents To differentiate elements Tie elements together
Color attracts Black explains Before and After Magazine
Image for background
Colors Lighting conditions Print proof copy Color blindness
Text Serif font Times Roman Body text Sans serif font Arial or Helvetica Title & subtitles (headers) Graphs & diagrams
Text sizes Sans serif font Titles 84-90 point Author 42 point Section & graph headers 30-48 point Graph and diagram text 24-28 point Serif font Text 24-28 point References and acknowledgements 20 point
Comic Sans
47 inches wide 11.5 in. 11.5 in. 11.5 in. 11.5 in.
Use left justification only Use left justification only as it is easiest to read. If you justify both left and right margins, your text may have large gaps that make it difficult to read. If you justify both left and right margins, your text may have large gaps between letters and words that make it difficult t o r e a d.
Use upper and lower case lettering
Layout Keep design and layout consistent Use consistent font, size, color and placement
Build Poster Make paper sketch of poster before creating on computer
Poster presentation process Planning Write content Gather images Design Review & edit
Check poster for: Accurate content Spelling Grammar Text sizes Graphic sizes Consistent Legible Elements aligned Proper resolution Figure numbers coincide with text reference Colors readable in low light
Poster presentation process Planning Write content Gather images Design Review Print
Plastic carrying tube Picture hanging kit Velcro Tacks Push pins Tape
Poster presentation process Planning Write content Gather images Design Review Print Present
Doug Golick University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Justin McMechan University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Thank you to: Travis Prochaska Justin McMechan Crystal Ramm Karen Da Silva Nick Aliano Doug Golick
Up-coming topics: How to write a good scientific paper How to review a scientific manuscript Microphotography techniques Writing for a nonscientific audience How to properly review journal articles Interviewing skills