How To:Effective Scientific Poster

Huda Nazeer, Yajeshwar Seetul

IntroductionA: ……B: ……

ObjectivesA: ……B: ……

MethodA: ……B: ……C: ……(Pictures)

Results

Figures

Graphs

Tables

Comment on resultsA: ……

DiscussionA: ……B: ……

ConclusionA: ……

Title / Name / Programme of Study (year)

References / Acknowledgements

Points to Remember:

1. Right content

2. Good formatting

Content

Introduction:

● Arouse interest in the topic with minimal background

information and definitions.

● Forget about the details. Include only what is

important!

Objectives:

● State clearly what you tried to do and the expected

results.

Content

Methodology:

● Briefly describe procedures + State the statistical

analysis.

● Flowcharts and photographs are better at explaining.

Results:

● Data which is specifically related to your hypothesis is

included in tables, charts and figures (not all data).

● Briefly comment results (qualitative / descriptive).

ContentDiscussion:

● Show how all the experimentations you did is

connected to your hypothesis.

● Discuss everything that relates your data to your

hypothesis in short sentences.

Conclusion:

● Remind the viewer of the major results and if it

supported your hypothesis or not. Also mention

relevance to other findings.

Formatting1. Planning

2. Color and font

3. Title and headings

4. Layout

Formatting1. Planning: (“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!”)

● How do you want your poster to be?

● What do you want to eliminate from all the

information you have?

● Distribution of blocks of texts, figures and tables?

● Landscape or portrait?

● Deadline?!

Formatting2. Color and Font:

● Pale background (white preferably) with dark

colored text.

● Do not use pictures as background.

● Keep text sizes uniform and consistent with

clearly visible fonts (24 normal typeface).

Formatting3. Title and headings:

● Brief (<25 words) and self-explanatory.

● Title: 54 - 72 bold typeface.

● Subtitle: 32 bold typeface.

Formatting4. Layout: (Poster should be visually appealing and harmonious.)

● Format it in a logical, columnar and linear fashion.

● Give only relevant details with minimal use of text,

keep it concise.

● Do not spread pictures, tables and graphs all over the

poster.

● Tables and figures simple and properly labelled (18

normal typeface).

○ Tables: Labelling above

○ Figures and pictures: Labelling below

● Graphs (no 3D) and bullets simple.

FormattingOther important points:

● Be mindful of spelling mistakes.

● Build a good flow of information.

○ From top to bottom and left to right (“reader’s

gravity”)

● The reader should only spend 3 - 5 minutes on the

poster.

● Use short phrases - no full sentences.

● Do not include overly bright colors.

● Consider using appropriate softwares to ease your

work (Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Pixlr

Express).

Example of a Bad Poster

Conclusion● In the end, a poster is just another means to convey a

particular information, which is composed of a short

title, an introduction to your burning question, an

overview of your novel approach, your results, some

insightful discussion of your result and some brief

acknowledgement and references.

● What makes it a good one is how you manage to capture

your audience’s attention through a well-designed and

captivating (without being too overwhelming) poster

that contains just the right amount of information.

Thank You For Your Attention!