Title: How to Prepare a Scientific Poster for BIOS 312
1How to Prepare aScientific Posterfor BIOS 312
- Dr. Mary Purugganan
- Cain Project in Engineering Professional
Communication - maryp_at_rice.edu
- www.owlnet.rice.edu/cainproj/
2 Posters Present a Challenge
- Posters must be lean and clean
- Posters must stand alone
-
3Todays Plan
- Review design principles
- Critique samples
4Whats YOUR News?
- What investigation did you conduct?
- What was the purpose?
- Why does your work matter? What sets it apart?
- What are your methods?
- What are your results?
- What are your conclusions?
5Connect with the Audience
- Why are they interested?
- What are their backgrounds?
- How will they benefit?
- What are their questions?
6Make Key Points Accessible
- Create accurate, informative title
- Include introductory summary / abstract or
objectives - Use forecasting statements to introduce or
summarize each section - Define jargon
- Use message headings
7Message headings
- Results of Cell Proliferation Assay
- Concentration of Cells Vs. Time in Different
Media Conditions - Cell Proliferation Increases with Serum
Percentage of Media
8For layout, visualize the key pointsHow do
you see the information?
9Match visualization to layout
- Left-to-right flow in vertical columns
- Left-to-right flow in horizontal rows
- Centered image with explanations
- Two fields in contrast
10L-to-R Flow in Vertical Columns
Title Authors
- Flows top to bottom, left to right
11Title Authors
Methods
Fig 2
Goals
Conclusions
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13L-to-R Flow in Rows
Title Authors
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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15Centered Image Explanations
Title Authors
Abstract
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17Two Fields in Contrast
Title Authors
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19Guide the Reader
- Scale expresses relative importance
- Indenting shows subordination
- As in this example
- White space directs gaze
- Color adds emphasis or coherence
20Font Style and Size
- Title (6 8 words)
- Sans Serif font (Arial, Helvetica)
- 90 - 120 pt
- Headings (3 words)
- Sans Serif (Arial, Helvetica)
- 36 - 48 pt
- Text
- Sans Serif (Arial, Helvetica) or Serif (Times)
- 28 - 36 pt.
21If you design a poster that looks like this . .
.
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23your audience will react like this
24Fat Text - - to - - Lean Text
- The ideal anesthetic should quickly make the
patient unconscious but allow a quick return to
consciousness, have few side effects, and be safe
to handle.
- Ideal anesthetics
- Quick sedation
- Quick recovery
- Few side effects
- Safe to handle
25Principles of Explanation
- Interpret, dont just show, data
26Protein X is located in nucleus and cytoplasm of
some cells
- Results of immunolocalization of protein x
27Protein X is located in nucleus and cytoplasm of
some cells
Cytoplasmic localization
- Nuclear localization was common
- Cytoplasmic localization was observed in some
cells
Nuclear localization
28Common Errors in Poster Visuals
- Size
- Colors
- Labels
- Units
- Chart junk
- Significant figures
- and error bars
29Seedling growth
30Rate of seedling growth at three different
temperatures
30oC
25oC
20oC
31Details Matter!
- Check for consistent formatting
- Check grammar and spelling
- Use a correct bibliography
32Communicate with Confidence
- Talk to audience
- Stand up straight
- Integrate gestures
- Use voice to convey enthusiasm
- Adjust pacing
33Sample Posters
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