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2009 CIC SROP Conference

Passport to the Ph.D.

Preparation for Global Leadership

Passport to the Ph.D.: Preparation for Global Leadership

Poster Presentations

Poster Size and Display

Posters will be displayed on poster board, set on an easel. Poster board, push pins and easels will be provided for you during the poster set-up. Poster board size is 32” x 40” and your poster should NOT exceed that size. Posters may be displayed either horizontally or vertically. Your poster should be no smaller than 28” x 22”. It is recommended that you use light weight poster board that will easily roll for travel.

If you wish to bring your poster pre-mounted on foam board you may, but it must be firm foam board and no larger than 32” x 40” to properly display on the easel.

There will be no electrical supply for laptops or other equipment. Your display is limited to the poster itself.

Poster Set-Up/Take-Down

The Poster Session will take place in the Undergraduate Science Building (USB). You must set-up your poster during one of the following times:

  • Friday, July 24, 2009 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 25, 2009 – 7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.

No poster set-up is allowed during sessions.

You will be assigned a number and a specific location for displaying your poster. Volunteers will be on-site to assist you as needed.

Posters will remain up during both sessions so all attendees may view them. All posters must be picked up on Saturday, July 25, 2009 between 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Presenting Your Poster

The Poster Sessions will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 pm and 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm. You are expected to attend your entire session, presenting your poster and interacting with other poster presenters.

You must present your poster during your assigned session. Every student is expected to stand by their poster for 45 minutes to discuss their work with session attendees.

Poster Session One

Students with odd numbered posters will present from 2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Students with even numbered posters will present from 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Poster Session Two

Students with odd numbered posters will present from 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Students with even numbered posters will present from 4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

During the time you are not presenting you should enjoy the presentations of others. We ask that you help make this a valuable experience by interacting in a positive way. You will be asked to complete evaluations of your peers.

Why Present a Poster?

The 2009 CIC/SROP Conference offers CIC/SROP scholars an excellent opportunity to present a wide range of research from the initial research ideas, works-in-progress, to more developed projects. Presenting your research ideas and efforts at the annual CIC/SROP conference advances your professional development in several ways. You will:

  • Obtain helpful insights, ideas, encouragement, and feedback to help shape your research
  • Gain valuable presentation experience early in your career
  • Extend your professional network beyond your immediate SROP program and home campus
  • Expand your resume or curriculum vita
  • Enhance your application for graduate study

If you have not presented research at an academic conference, the CIC/SROP Conference is a good place to begin as it provides a collegial and supportive setting.

What Should a Poster Contain?

A poster should be self-contained and self-explanatory, allowing different viewers to proceed on their own while leaving the author free to discuss points raised by viewers. The poster session offers a more intimate forum for discussion than a slide or PowerPoint presentation, but discussions become difficult if the author is obliged to devote most of the time explaining the poster to a succession of viewers. Remember that the time spent at each poster is determined by the viewer, not the author.

An effective poster is neither a page-by- page printout of a journal paper nor a slide show, but a display which balances figures and text.

Questions to be Addressed by the Presenters:

1. What are you researching?

State the nature of the issue, topic or problem that you are studying. Include at least 1-2 questions your research addresses and, if possible, state your formal hypotheses (tentative assumptions you are testing through your research).

Possible headings:
  • Purpose
  • Objective
  • Issue
  • Research question
  • Problem
  • Hypothesis
  • Thesis
  • Major points
  • Premises

2. Why are you researching this topic?

Briefly explain what is known about the issue, topic or problem (background). Also explain why you are researching it. For example, why is it important? Why does it interest you? What new information can you add with your research?

Possible headings:
  • Justification
  • Rationale
  • Motivation
  • Significance
  • Background

3. How are you researching this topic?

Describe what you are doing and materials you are using, e.g., lab experiments designed or conducted, interviews, surveys, library research/literature review, subjects/ populations studied, conditions examined, etc. Also note theories used, developed or demonstrated. (Address what applies to research in your field.)

Possible headings:
  • Methods
  • Methodology
  • Design
  • Study population
  • Research Subjects

4. What is the status of your research?

Describe the status of your project, e.g., your initial observations (if any) and future directions; or describe your results and your conclusions (e.g., supporting or not supporting your hypothesis). What problems have you encountered? What have you learned? What do you hope to learn?

Possible headings:
  • Current status
  • Progress toward results
  • Results
  • Discussion (interpretation of results)
  • Conclusions
  • Limitations of research
  • Implications

Advanced Questions

Presentations for research beyond the initial stage should include most, if not all, of the following:

  • Statement of the problem or issue
  • Brief background or literature review (what is already known about the problem?)
  • Hypotheses (what you want to test or what you think you will find). Include one to three research questions.
  • Methods what you did or plan to do)
  • Results what you found or think you will find)
  • Discussion what the results might mean)
  • Significance why is what you are testing important and what new information can it add?)
  • Limitations of research
  • Future research directions

Poster Requirements

  • Posters must feature at least four basic sections addressing the following questions: What are you researching this summer? Why are you researching this topic? How are you researching this topic (methods)? What is the status of your research or what have you learned. Information on how to address these questions and possible section headings can be found in the table shown in “What Should a Poster Contain?”
  • All participants with research presentation experience are welcome to present posters with greater complexity than the four sections noted above. See the “Advanced Questions” shown in “What Should a Poster Contain?”
  • Posters must contain a title banner.
  • Include the title of your presentation, your name and affiliation (home institution), the name of your SROP faculty member, and your CIC host institution. Posters will be displayed on poster board, set on an easel. Poster board, push pins and easels will be provided for you during the poster set-up. Poster board size is 32” x 40” and your poster should not exceed that size. If you wish to provide your own poster board you may, but it must be firm foam board and be no larger than 32” x 40” to properly display on the easel. You may display your poster either vertically or horizontally. Your poster should be no smaller than 28” x 22.” It is recommended that you use light weight poster board that will easily roll for travel.

Preparing an Effective Poster

  • Your materials should be laid out in columns with section headings. Lettering should be at least 1” high.
  • You can create a complete poster in one PowerPoint slide or with Microsoft Publisher if you have access to a large format printer.
  • If you do not have access to a large format printer, you can create elements of your poster as PowerPoint slides that you can then print, cut and paste to a light weight poster board.
  • If you have a choice, create the complete poster without having to cut and paste.
  • Take time to carefully plan your poster.
  • The format of a poster requires attention to visual impact.
    • Black type is best, but bold or color can be used to emphasize or highlight key points.
    • Use unembellished, legible fonts such as Helvetica. Suggested font sizes:
      • Title: 100-144 points
      • Section headings: 72- 84 points
      • Presenter and mentor names and affiliations: 72-84 points
      • Text: 18-24 points
    • Lettering should be legible from 5-6 feet away.
  • Information should flow logically from one section to the next.
  • Focus on central points, main ideas.
  • Use graphs or tables to present numerical data.
  • References should be included where other people’s work is being represented. Use citation appropriate for your field of research.
  • Avoid unnecessary detail. Keep the text brief. Condense your ideas.
  • High-contrast, large, clear text with appropriate graphics will draw attendees to your poster.
  • If you must glue down poster elements, use spray adhesive or double-sided tape. Standard white glue will cause bumps, bubbles, or wrinkles.
  • Protect your poster when traveling. Cardboard shipping tubes are a convenient way to carry your poster.

Are Handouts Required?

Handouts are not required. However, this is an opportunity for you to present yourself and make future contacts so you may wish to provide handouts about your presentation for interested conference participants to take with them. Be sure to include your contact information. Handouts should be prepared in advance and brought with you to the conference.

Presenting Your Poster

  • You must stand by your poster for at least 45 minutes of the poster session. If your poster is assigned an odd number you will present during the first time slot of your session. If your poster is assigned an even number you will present during the second time slot of your session.
    • Wear your neck wallet/name badge.
    • Be enthusiastic about your research.
    • Greet visitors to your poster and approach people who appear interested.
    • Introduce yourself!
  • Conference participants will want to hear a brief (1-3 minutes) summary of your research and your poster.
    • Rehearse your presentation before the poster session.
    • Do not read your poster verbatim.
    • Be prepared to answer questions about your project.
    • Do not worry about having an answer for every question. Unexpected questions can point you to new directions for your research and uncertainties can elicit feedback, insights, and helpful suggestions from others.

Poster Presentations Resources Online

Designing Effective Poster Presentations – The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, Arts & Sciences Library website includes a list of readings on poster presentations.

Poster Sessions – The Writing Center at Colorado State University offers a detailed discussion of poster sessions, with examples, in its online Writing Guide on "Speeches and Presentations."

Creating an Effective Poster Presentation – The University of Kansas Medical Center offers several online tutorials on presentations.

Guidelines and Tips for Poster Presentations – Sigma XI: The Scientific Research Society offers guidelines and tips for students preparing poster presentations for the organization’s annual research conference.

Poster Presentation of Research Work – The University of Newcastle Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials Department’s “Presentation Skills” website includes articles and links to a variety of helpful resources, including this page on posters.