Meghan Dale
RBJSE Workshops 2015
More up front planning to put together
than a paper presentation or a roundtable.
Get immediate feedback on your research...
whatever state it might be in!
Receive group feedback.
Are you going in the right direction?
Where should you go next?
Does your analysis and explanation make
sense?
Make your poster.
Print your poster.
Pack your poster.
Set up your poster.
Talk about your poster.
Content is similar to an abstract
Ask yourself: “What do people NEED to know
and see to understand my study?”
It doesn’t have to contain everything,
because you’ll be right there the whole
time.
It’s a visual presentation: a mix of text,
tables, figures, images. Keep it interesting!
Title, Authors, Affiliation(s), Institutional
and/or Funding Logos
(Abstract), Introduction/Background,
Research Questions, Method/Materials,
Results, Discussion/Conclusion,
(References)
Non-empirical studies may only have
some of these components
Powerpoint. (Free, and you already know
how to use it!)
Create a custom sized PPT slide that is
the actual size of your poster (e.g., 4’ x
3’).
Easiest: Avail yourself of the templates that
are already out there!
Don’t reinvent the wheel! (Unless you
want to.) Find something you like, and
can work with, and stick with it.
Title Text
http://www.queensu.ca/identity/ppt
http://anesthesiology.queensu.ca/research
http://www.posterpresentations.com/html/free_poster_tem
plates.html
Queen’s has (strict) guidelines and
standards as to how their visual identity
(logo, colours, etc.) are used.
http://www.queensu.ca/identity/guide
Very picky, but very helpful.
Logos for download:
http://www.queensu.ca/identity/logo
If you include an image, make sure it’s
300dpi or it will come out fuzzy/pixelated.
Text = at least 32 pt (tables), 36 pt (body)
Not all poster boards are the same!
European poster boards = PORTRAIT
NA poster boards = LANDSCAPE
The conference will provide information, like
“Our poster boards are approximately 76” (H) x
42” (W), or 2m x 1 m.”
This is your MAX SIZE, not how big your
poster should be!
There are lots of printing locations in
Kingston. We highlight two in the handout.
They can print on glossy paper, matte paper,
poster board, and fabric!
Costs between $35-$100.
Send to printer 1 WEEK before you need it.
Check the quality before and after you have
it printed
Ask for a proof
Open up the poster before you leave the store
Cardboard tube
Cost: $3 to $5
Plastic tube
Cost: $15 to $30
Cardboard tube
Cost: $3 to $5
Plastic tube
Cost: $15 to $30
Fabric posters can be folded and packed
in your suitcase!
Poster tube can be carried on the plane
as your second carry on.
Pushpins
Water bottle, comfortable shoes
Notebook to jot down ideas/information
Business cards
A way for people to get a copy of your
poster
tack up a paper and pen for people to
leave their email;
printouts/handouts;
sticker/slip of paper with URL.
Stand by your poster as much as possible
When you have no business, stand to the
side of your poster so you don’t obscure
the text
Maintain an open, relaxed, and friendly
demeanour; engage visitors with a smile
Be inviting, but be sensitive to people who
don’t want to be “rushed” -- offer to
answer questions, then let them be
If you gauge that someone is interested,
offer to “walk them through” -- don’t just
make them read!
Judge their expertise and hit the
appropriate high points.
e.g., someone who works closely in your area,
someone who is unfamiliar with the topic
As general as possible, but still
communicate the crucial information!
2-3 sentences to the problem statement &
rationale.
Explicitly state the research question(s).
For participants, salient details ONLY: age,
special population, but not how recruited
or assent obtained.
More attention on experimental tasks than
to familiar, standardized tasks
Shouldn’t take you any more than 3-4
minutes.
If no one else is around or the person
seems particularly interested, you can take
longer.
Keep your eyes open for people who
approach during your walk through!
Orient yourself to include them, make eye
contact.
The poster session goes very quickly. You
will become an expert at the walk through
by the end... but why not be an expert at the
beginning?
Ask your friends, colleagues, or labmates to
let you walk them through your poster.

Have questions? We have answers!