You may have opted to present a scientific poster, or the conference organisers may invite you to present a poster if your abstract has not been accepted for an oral presentation.
Posters are effective visual communication tools, able to engage people in a conversation, convey main points to large crowds and advertise one’s work (research/clinical project). Posters can be less stressful than oral presentations and can be displayed in your department.
CAHPR has published the following advice designing a scientific poster.
Tip 1 - How many sections?
These are the most common sections of a scientific poster: title, introduction, methods and materials, results, conclusions, literature cited and acknowledgments. The next tips guide you through these sections.
Tip 2 - Poster title
Should be brief, interesting, catchy, 1-2 lines, not very long. Develop a short, large, results-oriented title. Avoid clever titles.
Tip 3 - Introduction
Get your viewer interested. Avoid a lengthy literature review! It should be sharp and succinct with a few sentences. Use the most relevant references ... not too many, you should be brief. Introduce your hypotheses, aim(s) or questions at the end of this section.
Tip 4 - Methods and materials
Outline your design, procedures, group/participant characteristics, equipment/material or outcome measures used. Outline any statistical analysis used. Be brief, use bullet points, tables and figures.
Tip 5 - Results
Start with your hypothesis or question(s). Give an overview of the findings, include figures where possible, e.g. ‘95% of the students completed the survey', and then add more details, e.g. ‘75% of them reported that ...’. Illustrate findings with detailed and well-designed graphs, figures. Keep paragraphs brief and short, avoiding too much text. Do not forget to refer to the numbered figure/graph within your text.
Tip 6 - Discussion/conclusions
Remind the reader of your hypothesis/hypotheses or question(s). Address these questions: Why are your findings important? What is the relevance of your findings with previous work? How is it applicable to clinical practice or other areas? What should happen next? Be concise, use bullet points.
Tip 7 - Citations and acknowledgments
Follow the guidelines of the organisers for citing published work. Avoid grey literature. Cite relevant papers and those you have read. In the acknowledgements thank those that helped you and funded your project and mention any conflicts of interest.
Tip 8 - Appearance and text
Posters should be bright, colourful and uncluttered. Use large, easy-to-read font throughout and minimize text. Use appropriate headings to organize your poster and guide viewers. Check grammar and any other errors. Make sure you follow the guidelines of the organisers for size and presentation.
Tip 9 – Presenting your poster
Prepare a summary hand-out to give to those viewing your poster. Know when the poster viewing sessions will be and make sure you are with your poster during your assigned time. Be prepared to speak about your poster and answer any questions.
Tip 10 - Author’s information
Make sure you include your contact details on the poster so that other people interested in your work are able to contact you. Include also your name, job title and place of work.
DOWNLOAD: CAHPR TOP TIPS Preparing a Scientific Poster