- Since a poster is essentially a visual presentation, try to find ways to show what was done - use schematic diagrams, arrows, and other strategies to direct the visual attention of the viewer, rather than explaining it all using text alone.
- Design the poster to address one central question. State the question clearly in the poster, then use your discussion time with individuals to expand or expound upon issues surrounding that central theme.
- Provide an explicit take-home message.
- Summarize implications and conclusions briefly, and in user-friendly language.
- Give credit where it is due. Have an acknowledgements section, in smaller size type (14 - 18 point), where you acknowledge contributors and funding organizations.
- Do not use school mascots or logos on the poster; they add a useless visual distraction to the poster, and indicate a degree of jingoism incompatible with scientific endeavors.
- Vary the size and spacing of the poster sections to add visual interest, but do so in moderation.
- Do not wander too far away from your poster during the session; be available for discussion!
The '94 Society for Neuroscience meeting in Miami illustrated several more considerations I hadn't thought of:
- Don't leave your poster unattended anywhere - including your hotel room! One presenter had her poster stolen from her hotel room. What's the world coming to, eh?
- Many posters from drier climates warped & wrinkled in the humidity (and there was a lot of extra humidity in Miami as tropical storm Gordon blew through town during that meeting).
- On the other hand, the Minneapolis Neuroscience meeting (that was way back in '82 for you youngsters) taught many of us about the effects on posters of cold, wet and blowing snow. More reasons to take a roll of double-stick tape to your meeting.
- If you do choose to print the poster as single large sheet, be aware that most inks used by large-format printers are water-based. This is a good reason to laminate the poster after it is printed - a bare poster exposed to raindrops quickly will become difficult to read!
CONTINUE on to Odds and Sods for more practical hints, or RETURN to the Main Menu page.
Jeff Radel
Last Update: July 1999