Creating a Research Creating a Research PosterPosterDr. Patricia Masso-WelchDept. Biotechnical and Clinical Lab. Sciencespmwelch@buffalo.edu

Major format for technical Major format for technical communicationcommunicationVisual and verbalGraphic and textualIn a symposium, posters will

usually be on display several hours◦authors present during part of that

time to discuss subject with interested viewers

◦good chance to build your reputation with the scientific community

What is the purposeWhat is the purpose??

TeachingExchange of scientific dataDescription of a technique so that

others can perform itOngoing advertisement for research

program

Does it answer the questions that are natural for the audience to have?

Strength of a poster Strength of a poster presentationpresentationEfficient presentation of data in a

simplified graphic format◦Less detail than a manuscript

Informal format◦Multiple presentations at once

Dynamic ◦Allows exchange of ideas◦Opportunity to demonstrate your level

of interaction in the project◦An enthusiastic presentation stimulates

recruitment and collaborations

The next thought: your The next thought: your audienceaudienceYour poster should be understandable by

a wide audience Students Other educators Administrators Scientists Representatives from granting agencies Press

Keep in mind: ◦ What they want to learn from your

presentation◦ What you want them to know after your

presentation

Consider your AudienceConsider your AudienceViewers have a lot of other

posters to seeViewers are standing and it is

tiring to read on your feet for a long period of time

Summarize whenever possible Show pictures, tables, graphs to express

information instead of large blocks of descriptive text

All text and tables should be legible from 1-2 feet away

AestheticsAesthetics

Your poster should be ◦Clearly organized◦Simple with an obvious central point◦Easy to read from 1-2 meters away◦Attractive and aesthetically pleasing

Prepare content for Prepare content for out of sequence readingout of sequence readingDepending on your audience, a

spectator may read your poster in ways other then from beginning to end

Readers may focus on one particular area of interest

Each section should be able to stand alone in an understandable fashion

Poster Format:Poster Format:TitleAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsConclusionsLiterature CitedAcknowledgments

TitleTitleStatement of the topic of your poster

◦ No abbreviations or jargon◦ Use title to give topic, not to summarize all

resultsAuthors’ names

◦ Should reflect relative contribution You Your student(s) whose work is presented on that poster Your collaborators here at UB

Affiliations of authors◦ Use superscripts if different authors are from

different institutions, e.g. Dr. Stephen T. Koury1

1Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214

The AbstractThe Abstract

PurposeTo summarize the work presented in

the posterTo show the reader very quickly

whether the paper is valuable to their research

To be published as a full reference (e.g. meeting abstracts)

To provide terminology that can aid in literature searches for indexes and data banks

Contents of the AbstractContents of the AbstractBasic justification for conducting

the investigationThe research objectivesMethods used to conduct the

researchThe results of the researchSignificant conclusions that can

be drawn

Why is the abstract so Why is the abstract so important?important?It is your scientific face to the world!Your abstract will be used by people in your

field to determine your role as a scientific player

The abstract will be how other scientists remember (and index) your scientific research

Many people will read your abstract; few will read your poster or paper in its entirety

If your abstract is poorly-written, it is unlikely that people will take your work as seriously

The IntroductionThe Introduction

◦Background information on the topic: Why is this topic important? What have others previously done?

◦Bring in what isn’t known from previous studies

◦Clearly state hypothesis◦State the objectives of your current

study E.g. The purpose of this study was to

describe the putative function of the ___ gene product of Kytococcus sedentarius.

Materials and Methods Materials and Methods Describe all methods used in sufficient

detail that this study could be replicated◦Software with full name (followed by

abbreviation)◦Web site of software availability

Be brief, but make sure the audience knows exactly how the data was analyzed◦What databases were used for comparison◦What was the cut-off/rationale for choosing

top matches?If possible, use picture, flow-chart, or

list to describe steps in a process

ResultsUse graphic depictions Use only data required to make your

pointUse text to explain or to draw

attention to a pointEach figure, graph and table should

have a figure legend, which describes exactly what the figure is showing.

You should be able to understand each figure simply by looking at the image and reading the figure legend!

FiguresFiguresChoose the purpose and form

that best serves purpose◦Tables◦Graphs◦Images◦Schematics/flow charts

Presentation of dataPresentation of dataTables

◦No more than 20 items per field◦Highlight important parts with color Don’t over use this

◦Align decimals

Presentation of dataPresentation of data

Graphs: Used to show relationships◦The number of bars and lines

must be limited no more than 3 lines or 6 bars

unless grouped

◦Illustrate main point as clearly and simply as possible

GraphsGraphs◦Use consistent labeling from one

graph to another Same shape and color to represent

same item in different graph◦Where possible keep axis in different graphs on your poster on same scale

◦Where possible keep graphs same size

◦Label and title graphs

Preparing graphs and Preparing graphs and figuresfiguresWill figure help understanding?Is figure too complex?

◦Should it be split into multiple figures?

What kind of graphic shows data best?◦Table versus image

Presentation of dataPresentation of dataImages

◦Resolution◦Aspect ratio◦Labels/arrows indicating specific

areas of interestGraphs

◦Clearly label all axes and unitsTables

◦Not too many lines◦Indicate fields of interest

Data presentationData presentationDon’t try to use all data points

that you obtained in your research

Select representative data But don’t ignore data that doesn’t prove

your point Present data that doesn’t fit your

hypothesis, and discuss what it might mean

Type size and styleType size and styleLegibility critical

◦ Font size order: ◦ Title>Authors>Affiliation◦ Headings>Subheadings>Body text◦ Body text should be NO smaller than a 14

point font.

◦ Avoid ornate or script styles◦ Use italics only when necessary for

scientific correctness◦ DON’T USE ALL CAPITALS◦ Define all abbreviations/acronyms at first

use

ColorColorUnlike a manuscript, where page

charges apply, a poster is meant to employ color to illustrate data

Choose color rationally and use defaults for graphical data presentation software◦Avoid changing text fonts and color

except to where it enhances the data (e.g. single amino acid code, using different shadings)

Use consistent color for headings and subheadings

SpacingSpacing

Allotted space is 48X36” (template)

Plan your layout on screen◦Don’t crowd edges of poster◦Leave white spaces between

sections and between paragraphs◦After all text is complete, make sure

that boxes and figures are aligned◦Make sure all text is similarly

justified

Layout and total contentLayout and total content◦Prepare poster so that logical

progression of information is left to right, top to bottom Start in upper left hand corner

◦Try to tell a logical story of your data Order of material that you present does not

have to be in the same order as you obtained it

◦Eliminate all extraneous material The purpose is not to present everything that

you have ever done on this project, but to tell a story

You can supply supplemental information in question and answer mode

Final check on poster Final check on poster layoutlayoutAre text boxes and figures

aligned and centered in columns?Are font sizes and styles

consistent in Headings?Are font size and styles

consistent in all text boxes?Is capitalization consistent?Is text justification consistent?Did you do a spelling and

grammar check?

PresenterPresenterYour knowledge, appearance and

ability to discuss your subject are keyAttitude important, be enthusiastic!Presence: be at your poster in the

assigned times!Be engaged: No texting, no sighing,

no chatting with friends or otherwise ignoring people at your posters

A few people that are really interested means that you have succeeded

Constructing the posterConstructing the posterBuild your poster as you go

◦Collect figures from your lab notebookHave your students perform peer

editing of each others’ postersYou should also review the poster

online, as well as in a rough hard copy (print to 4 pages and tape together)

Submit poster to us to review before printing

All posters go through multiple iterations before they are ready to send to the printer

Can also prepare hand-outs to make it Can also prepare hand-outs to make it easy for people to remember who you easy for people to remember who you are! are! Two formats:Title and abstract (easier to read)

◦Title, authors and affiliations ◦Contact info (email, phone)◦Abstract

Condensed facsimile of poster ◦Print on regular letter paper with “fit

to page” selected

Peer reviewPeer reviewHow easily can you get an idea of

◦ What research was performed◦ The objective of the study◦ The methods used in this study◦ The results and conclusions

Title◦ Is it clear what the poster is about?

Progression◦ Is the thought process easy to follow?◦ Are the graphics helpful or distracting?◦ Could more text be replaced by graphics?

Peer reviewPeer reviewProofreading

◦Misspellings, omissions, punctuation errors

◦Syntax and grammar◦Paragraph structure◦Overall organization

Templates for UB PostersTemplates for UB Posters

http://www.buffalo.edu/toolbox/downloads/research_posters.php

Microsoft Office TrainingMicrosoft Office Training http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/training-FX1

01782702.aspx?redir=0

Training available for all Office programs

Interactive tutorialsAlso, in Powerpoint, the ? Icon in

upper right hand corner is always available