Space for posters will be given for the duration of the second and third day of the conference.
The poster is an important method for presenting research information at a conference and has many advantages over oral presentation, including interaction on a one-to-one basis with interested delegates, images and data that can have a greater influence than transparencies fleetingly glimpsed in an oral presentation and where English is not fluently spoken, a more effective method of communication.
The following guidelines should help you prepare effective and successful posters.
Preparing the Poster
Design your poster to be as eye-catching and attractive as possible and where possible illustrate with a figure, chart or photograph rather than text. The basic rule is to keep it simple, do not clutter, do not include unnecessary data, make everything bold and large, and try and get your message across to the non-experts as well as experts in your field.
Figures, Charts and Photographs
Figures, charts and photographs should be made as large and of as good a quality as possible. Labels or arrows should be bold and easily seen. Contrasting mounting card and a coloured background are eye-catching assets. A mixture of different coloured backgrounds can also be very effective but too many colours, type styles or images can be confusing to those reading the poster information.
The Title
The title must be large and clear enough to be read from about 5 metres. Keep the title short and the letters bold, preferably solid-block and at least 5 cm high and as far as possible attention grabbing, for example by posing a question. Some authors include the logo of their institution or organisation and their own photo, which can be very helpful if the author is to be identified at the poster session.
The Text
The text should be concise, legible and easily comprehended. Traditionally, the poster should include an abstract, short introduction, aims of the study, results and discussion/conclusions. These should be presented as short ‘bullet’ lists rather than paragraphs of text. Do not overwhelm the viewer with masses of tables and data. Quantitative data can be presented as histograms, pie charts or line or bar graphs. Qualitative data can be presented as quotes, excerpts from publications (e.g. newspapers, magazines, official documents) or even as photographs or maps. The lettering of the text must be large and legible at up to 2 m.
Transporting the Poster
If you prepare your poster in the final form, you will just need to come and hang it up. This, however, may mean ‘lugging’ a gigantic package of unwieldy and uncomfortable dimensions. It is much easier, to prepare your poster on cards that fit into an oversized envelope that you could place at the bottom of your suitcase and pin up on arrival. It is vital that they are well mounted on cards to ensure that they lie flat. By far the best means of doing this is to have your poster laminated and transport it in a plastic or other sturdy tube.
If you are transporting your poster in your luggage, be aware that luggage has been known to get lost. It might be a good idea to make a duplicate poster and leave it in the care of someone who you can be in touch with easily and who can ship it to you via overnight delivery.
Conclusion
Poster preparation should not be regarded as an ordeal but should be fun and provide a sense of creativity and satisfaction. Do not leave the planning and preparation of your poster till the last minute.