About Posters / Talks / Demos

Presentation Formats and Requirements

After talking with your instructor about your project, you'll need to choose how to present it: as a poster, a lightning talk, or a demonstration/display. All presentations must follow the symposium specifications below. Work with your instructor on incorporating your course requirements into your presentation.

Not sure which format works best for your project?

Posters work well for research that uses data, graphs, or visual results (such as lab experiments, survey findings, design processes, or literary analysis).

Lightning Talks are great for projects that need storytelling or verbal explanation (like case studies, policy analysis, historical narratives, or textual analysis).

Demonstrations let people interact directly with your work (think prototypes, models, hands-on projects, creative installations, culinary techniques, or educational activities).

Still unsure after discussing with your instructor? Contact the UGR team at ugr@edmonds.edu for additional guidance.

Posters

• • Dimensions: 40" x 32" (landscape only please)

  • Template:  2026 Poster Template | Google Slides version to build your poster (please do not alter the dimensions). 

  • Check out this Guide for creating effective poster presentations 

Lightning Talks

Lightning talks are at most three to five minutes with a maximum of five slides (spend up to one minute per slide). There will be time for questions built into the process. The UGR team will contact you directly if you select this format when submitting your abstract. Here are some resources you may find useful:

• Guide to Oral Presentation Structure

• An Introduction to Oral Scientific Presentations

Demonstrations and Displays

Demonstrations and Displays are hands-on presentations showcasing physical projects, experiments, interactive models, or artistic works. that allow direct engagement with your work through observation, interaction, or participation. Demonstrations are ideal for projects involving lab techniques, engineering prototypes, creative installations, or community-based work that is more "hands-on." If you require electrical outlets, please indicate this when submitting your abstract. The UGR team will contact you directly if you select this format when submitting your abstract to discuss space requirements and setup logistics.

Safety Note: Demonstrations involving chemicals, open flames, sharp objects, or other potential hazards are not permitted at the symposium. If you have questions about whether your project complies with safety requirements, consult with your instructor and contact the UGR team before submitting your abstract.