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How to Prepare aHow to Prepare aScientific PosterScientific Poster

for BIOS 312for BIOS 312

Dr. Mary Purugganan

Cain Project in Engineering & Professional Communication

maryp@rice.eduwww.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj/

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Posters Present a ChallengePosters Present a Challenge

Posters must be lean and clean

Posters must stand alone

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Today’s PlanToday’s Plan

Review design principles

Critique samples

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What’s What’s YOURYOUR News? 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?

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Connect with the AudienceConnect with the Audience

Why are they interested?What are their backgrounds?How will they benefit?What are their questions?

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Make Key Points AccessibleMake 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

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Message headingsMessage headingsResults of Cell Proliferation Assay

Concentration of Cells Vs. Time in Different Media Conditions

Cell Proliferation Increases with Serum Percentage of Media

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

1 2 3 4 5 6Time (days)

Concentration (cells/mL)

1% serum5% serum10% serum

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For layout, visualize For layout, visualize the key points:the key points:

How do you How do you seesee the the information?information?

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Match visualization to layoutMatch 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

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L-to-R Flow in Vertical ColumnsL-to-R Flow in Vertical Columns

Flows top to bottom, left to right

Title & Authors

Title & AuthorsTitle & Authors

ResultsMethods

Goals

Problem Table 1

Conclusions

Fig 2

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L-to-R Flow in RowsL-to-R Flow in Rows

Title & Authors

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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Centered Image & ExplanationsCentered Image & Explanations

Title & Authors

Abstract

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Two Fields in ContrastTwo Fields in Contrast

Title & Authors

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Guide the ReaderGuide the Reader

Scale expresses relative importance

Indenting shows subordination

– As in this example

White space directs gaze

Color adds emphasis or coherence

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Font Style and SizeFont 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.

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If you design a poster that If you design a poster that looks like this . . .looks like this . . .

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your audience will react like this your audience will react like this

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Fat Text - - to - - Lean TextFat 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

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Principles of ExplanationPrinciples of Explanation

Tag image with explanations Interpret, don’t just show, data

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Protein X is located in nucleus Protein X is located in nucleus and cytoplasm of some cellsand cytoplasm of some cells

Results of immunolocalization of protein x

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Protein X is located in nucleus Protein X is located in nucleus and cytoplasm of some cellsand cytoplasm of some cells

Nuclear localization

Cytoplasmic localization Nuclear

localization was common

Cytoplasmic localization was observed in some cells

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Common Errors in Poster VisualsCommon Errors in Poster Visuals

Size

Colors

Labels

Units

“Chart junk”

Significant figures

and error bars

Rate of seedling growth at three different temperatures

Rate of seedling growth at three different temperatures

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0 8 16 24

Days of growth

Mean seedling height (mm)

20 C

25 C

30 C

“Default” design: ineffective

Rate of seedling growth at three different temperatures

30oC

25oC

20oC

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0 8 16 24

Days of growth

Mean seedling height (mm)

Designed: more effective

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Details Matter!Details Matter!

Check for consistent formatting

Check grammar and spelling

Use a correct bibliography

Communicate with ConfidenceCommunicate with Confidence

Talk to audience Stand up straight Integrate gestures

Use voice to convey enthusiasm

Adjust pacing

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Sample PostersSample Posters