1 poster presentations: strategies for success jeanne garland, b.a., m.a. public information...

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Poster Presentations:Strategies for Success

Jeanne Garland, B.A., M.A.

Public Information Coordinator/Student

Development Coordinator

New Mexico AMP

Summer 2009

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Presentation overview Planning, Designing, Creating, and Presenting your poster

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Planning A Presentation Define your audience and

purpose Determine requirements &

limitations Organize your presentation

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Planning a Poster Layout Consider the importance of visual

perception and visual design Keep it simple Use of color is important - but don’t

overdo Use graphs, flow-charts, photographs &

diagrams so poster is self-explanatory

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Designing Your Poster Readable

Simple enough for non-experts Interesting enough for experts in your

field Just the most important bottom-line info

Well-Organized Keep space limitations in mind Know how people read

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Designing (cont) Legible

Have lots of white space Show highlights

Succinct Very little text Use the space for illustrations Think of your poster as an illustrated

IMRaD

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Designing (cont) Don’t present too much information Use a large clear font for any text you

do have Know your material—the who, what,

why and what’s next for the research Acknowledge others involved in project

& the funding source

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Content How much to include

What size is the mounting space 36” x 48” or 36” x 36”

Poster should be readable from about 6 feet away

Give audience 1-3 take-home messages Don’t present all your research in one

poster

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Organize in modified IMRaD format Layout in left-to-right and top-to-bottom

(the way people read) Exceptions:

Upper right =POWER = Conclusions Lower corners = WEAK= M&M, tables,

other “stuff”

Layout

Title Use Bold - DO NOT USE ALL CAPS (Harder to Read) Make it short, and catchy (the ‘hook’ to make people stop)

and easy to read Have it tell the results of your research Use key words in initial position; think about indexing

terms that readers would use to look up your title and another scholar would think of to reference your work

Examples of Titles: “Early Age Concrete Shrinkage: Effects of Early Misting”

(use of title/subtitle) OR “Performance Testing and Analysis of a Solar Water

Distillation Unit.” (use of title only)

Title

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Presenting Your Poster Be ready to talk to experts/non-experts Use demonstration items if appropriate Look & act interested in your own work Keep social chit-chat to a minimum Turn off the cell phone, iPod, MP3 etc. Engage people in conversation Think ahead about possible questions

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In General…

Use a large san-serif font (this is Arial) Be consistent with font size Have lots of open space (referred to as “white space”) Divide your page into a visual 3-column design Use the IMRAD format for your poster Use bullets (this is not a journal article) Use graphs instead of tables (less clutter) Use photos, but make sure they are significant Use a background other than white KISS (Keep it simple and succinct!) Follow the conventions of your discipline for a poster- your

mentor has the FINAL say

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Introduction Method Results And Discussion

The IMRAD METHOD

Abstract Introduction

HypothesisObjectives

Materials&Methods

Photo/Results Conclusions

Results

M&M/Table/ Results

Implications

Table/Photos Include Funding # here:

HRD #033146

NEW MEXICO AMPALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION

TITLEYOUR NAME, MAJOR, NMSU

MENTOR’S NAME, TITLE, NMSU, DEPT.



Materials&Methods

Photo/ResultsConclusions

Results

M&M/Table/ Results

Implications


HRD #033146

I MRaD

I M RaD

IM R aD

IMRa D

IM R aD


TitleAuthor, Major

Mentor, Title, NMSU, Dept.



Materials&Methods

Photo/ResultsConclusions

Results

M&M/Table/ Results

Implications


HRD #033146

POWER CORNER

WEAK CORNER

POWER CORNER

WEAKEST CORNERDON’T PUT IMPORTANT INFO HERE)


TitleAuthor, Major

Mentor, Title, NMSU, Dept.



Photo/Results ConclusionsConclusions

Results

M&M/Table/ Results

Implications

Table/Photos

Other “stuff”

Subheadings -- 48 pt

Headings -- 72 pt

Text -- 32 ptM&M• Lorem ipsum

• Eritus enmae


Title- 96 ptAuthor, Major- 72 pt

Mentor, Title, NMSU, Dept.- 72 pt



M&M

Photo/Results ConclusionsConclusions

Results

M&M/Table/ Results

Implications

Table/Photos

Other “stuff”

Include either Abstract

OR Introduction

Part of the Discussion, also:Recommendations for Future

Research


Abstract Includes purpose of your study Question you answered (hypothesis) Background (what’s already known about study) Methods used Summary of most significant findings/results Conclusions and implications Need not be identical to submitted abstract

(Write Abstract At End of the Project)

Include either Abstract OR Introduction

Introduction Statement of the problem; identify topic Background of the problem Research question (hypothesis) Research objective (how question will be

addressed) Describe experiment/project ‘Hypothesis’ and ‘Objectives’ need to be separate

sections with their own headings or subheadings

Include either Abstract OR Introduction

Identify the materials used to perform the study

Briefly describe the procedures used to conduct the study

Include pictures, if appropriate

Note: You are already considered the expert--that’s why they stopped at your poster. There is no need to elaborate extensively on the methods unless this is a methods poster.

Materials& Methods

The RESULTS section of the poster Summarizes the data, the major findings of

the study (whether positive or negative) Identifies what the researcher sees, hears or

detects Provides the observations Provides proof of the hypothesisNOTE: (Results/Conclusions/Implications are all part of the

“Discussion” section of a technical report)

Results

The Conclusions section of the poster Explains the “so-what?” of the project (what the

findings mean) Includes the IMPLICATIONS of the research,

which point to the Meaning for future research Recommendations for applying results

NOTE: (Results/Conclusions/Implications are all part of the

“Discussion” section of a technical report)

Conclusions/Implications

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Brief legend at side or bottom No more than

20 items 4 columns 5 rows

Use significant numbers Use statistics

Number tables (if needed)

Tables

Table 1. Eslduroie wrhfnv worh;lf wruwuawiu wer rsdote awuflnf weefipf0fs

Blings (Mg/ha)Treatment Horgne(m)

Borch(mg/kg)

Keing(%)

Xeros(gpm)

1998 1999 2000 Mean

1 17.083 14 a 77 402 4.5 3.8 7.2 5.2 b

2 15.256 2 a 76 480 3.8 2.9 8.1 4.9 c

3 6.664 11 a 81 358 1.5 3.3 5.9 3.6 d

4 21.001 4 a 79 289 9.8 7.6 12.1 9.2 a

5 18.222 7 a 80 430 3.6 4.6 6.7 5.0 b

Mean 16.555 8 78 392 4.9 4.4 8.0 7.6

Table 1. Eslduroie wrhfnv worh;lf wruwuawiu wer rsdote awuflnf weefipf0fs


Borch(mg/kg)

Keing(%)

Xeros(gpm)

1998 1999 2000 Mean

1 17.083 14 a 77 402 4.5 3.8 7.2 5.2 b

2 15.256 2 a 76 480 3.8 2.9 8.1 4.9 c

3 6.664 11 a 81 358 1.5 3.3 5.9 3.6 d

4 21.001 4 a 79 289 9.8 7.6 12.1 9.2 a

5 18.222 7 a 80 430 3.6 4.6 6.7 5.0 b

Mean 16.555 8 78 392 4.9 4.4 8.0 7.6

What’s important here?

Table 1. Eslduroie wrhfnv worh; lf wruwuawiu wer rsdote awuflnf weefipf0fs


Borch(mg/kg)

Keing(%)

Xeros(gpm)

1998 1999 2000 Mean

1 17.083 14 a 77 402 4.5 3.8 7.2 5.2 b

2 15.256 2 a 76 480 3.8 2.9 8.1 4.9 c

3 6.664 11 a 81 358 1.5 3.3 5.9 3.6 d

4 21.001 4 a 79 289 9.8 7.6 12.1 9.2 a

5 18.222 7 a 80 430 3.6 4.6 6.7 5.0 b

Mean 16.555 8 78 392 4.9 4.4 8.0 7.6

Lower right corner Good place to note literature cites

(“References”) if needed Keep to a minimum

Acknowledge others involved in project & the funding source

Table/PhotosOther “stuff”

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Rules to Remember Rule #1 — These are guidelines

Adjust to the standards of your discipline Your mentor has the final say

The rest of the rules Know your audience/purpose/material Anticipate questions and problems Maximize eye contact Smile, and say thank you for stopping

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Final Thoughts

Whatever your research topic or presentation format The audience wants to know more about you

and your topic Respect the feedback that you receive from

others Let your presentation reflect the quality of the

research work Perfection is a state of mind, not a reality

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Bibliography Day, Robert, “How to Write and Publish a Scientific

Paper,” 5th ed., Orxy Press, 1998 Luces, Karen, M.A., New Mexico Alliance for Minority

Participation, “Oral and Poster Research Presentations: Strategies for Success” 2000-2006

Mexal, John, Ph.D., NMSU. Dept. Head, Agronomy and Horticulture, Title V workshop “Avoiding Awful Posters” June 2005

Nims,Cheryl, Ph.D., NMSU Department of English; “Making the Most of Your Poster Presentation” Summer 2001

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Acknowledgements New Mexico Alliance for Minority

Participation Staff National Science Foundation

(HRD #0331446)

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Where do I start?

Creating YOUR Poster

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Getting startedColor Theme:Choose a color theme, including a background color and text color that will show up on the color. • To insert a background color, go to Design, Color, Background Styles.

• For text color, highlight the text and change the color under Design.

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Getting startedUse of NMSU Logo:Remember restrictions on use of NMSU logos- use the crimson state logo and/or branding bar.

• For branding initiative, go to http://brand.nmsu.edu/msppt.html

• Include the New Mexico AMP Logo:(I will send this to you via e-mail):

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Identification Info For Your Poster: • Title of Project • Include your name, your program, mentor’s name and mentor’s department and your school

“Using Canopy Cover Photograph Technique to Estimate Percentage of Canopy Cover of Orchards”

By: Joseph Valles, Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) program

Mentor: Dr. Salim Bawazir, Asst. Professor of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University (NMSU)

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Formatting Your Poster Use Landscape Orientation Headings/subheadings

Keep font and size consistent Use left-justification (this makes your

margins ragged right) Use outline format (BULLETS- if the

convention of your discipline)

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Getting Started

PowerPoint©

On a PC On a MAC•Go to Design, Page Setup, Slides Sized for (choose custom with Landscape orientation, set at 44”wide, 34” high)

•Delete the two text boxes that appear as default

•Go to View and check Gridlines and Ruler (used for alignment purposes)

•Use Insert to put in text, tables, figures, photographs, etc. more easily• Go to Design for Background Color, Background Styles, etc.

•Print on 8.5” x 11” to proof-read (set your Printer Scale to Fit Paper)

•Go to File, Page Setup, Slides Sized for (choose custom with Landscape orientation, set at 44”wide, 34” high)

•Delete the two text boxes that appear as default

•Go to View, be sure Guides is checked (used to align text)

•Use Insert to put in text, tables, figures, photographs, etc. more easily

•Print on 8.5” x 11” to proof-read (set your Printer Scale to Fit Paper)



M&M

Photo/ Results

ConclusionsConclusions

Results

M&M/Table/ Results

Implications

Table/Photos

Other “stuff”

Be creative!!Have fun!!


TitleAuthor, Major

Mentor, Title, NMSU., Dept.

1 poster presentations: strategies for success jeanne garland, b.a., m.a. public information...

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