DESIGNING A SCIENTIFIC POSTER

CAROLINE ERB-MEDINA cerb@gc.cuny.edu

MACAULAY ITF - QUEENS COLLEGE

Adapted from a presentation created by Maggie Dickinson

What is a Scientific Poster?

It is:• A visual means for communicating a summary

of research.• Typically created for an academic or

professional community.• Should highlight the most important research

findings in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Today’s Goals

• Learn the basics of poster design• Determine how to create a successful poster

Poster Requirements

• Each group must create one poster to be presented by all group members.

• Posters can be made with PowerPoint, Keynote, or Illustrator.

• Dimensions must be 48” x 36”.

Selecting Slide Size in PowerPoint

• Choose the theme tab• Select page setup in the top left hand corner• Highlight slide size• Pick your dimensions under “page setup”

Deadlines

• Final version printed at Macaulay by appointment only: November 30

• Poster presentations will be held on: Wednesday, December 5, 6:00-8:30 Thursday, December 6, 6:00-8:30 Sunday, December 9, 10:00-12:30, 1:30-4:00

Suggested Components

• Introduction/background• Problem Statement• Objectives (and possibly constraints)• Strategies• Discussion• Conclusions• Recommendations• Supporting graphs and images

How to Use Text Break text up with bullets or numbers.

(As is done in this slide)

Indenting shows subordinationSee?

Avoid lengthy paragraphs that give far too much detail, like talking about why you did what you did and whether you dislike positivism because there is such a thing as reality out there and it operates in a certain way and we should be able to access that in some shape, form, or fashion and besides it’s all from some stuffy old dead guy thinking too hard, anyway.

Less is More

Teeth are ideal for studying life history because they grow incrementally, are not remodeled during an individual’s lifetime, and are not highly subject to environmental stresses.

Teeth & Life History

Incremental growthNot remodeledResistant to environmental stress

Design Essentials

Make sure your font colors stand out against the background. Use fonts people can read. Titles & headings should be 40 to 70 pt. Body text should never be less than 14 pt.Be consistent with colors and use them to guide the reader. Use one color for headings, another for body text.Use a single color background, anything else will not come out clearly in your printout.

What makes a bad poster?

What is wrong with this poster?

What is Wrong With This Poster?

Sample Poster Templates

Title & Authors

Left to Right, Top to Bottom Flow

Left to Right Flow in Rows

Title & Authors

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Centered Image & Peripheral Explanations

Title & Authors

Centered Explanation, Peripheral Images

Title & Authors

Sample Posters

Registration for Sessions has Opened

Sign up at:http://macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/

seminar3presentations/signup/

Scientific Poster ResourcesScientific Poster Design and Layout (makedesigns.com):http://www.makesigns.com/tutorials/poster-design-layout.aspx

Advice on Designing Scientific Posters (Swarthmore College):http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/posteradvice.htm“Do’s and Don’ts of Poster Presentation”

Example of Bad Scientific Poster (Colin Purrington):http://colinpurrington.com/2012/example-of-bad-scientific-poster/

Advice for Making Posters with PowerPoint (The University of Alabama)http://as.ua.edu/undergraduateresearch/presenting-your-work/making-posters/