Guidance on abstract and poster format and content

Title

The title of the abstract and poster should be informative and understandable by any scientific researcher.  Organisms should be named with their scientific and common names.

Abstract

The abstract should not exceed 250 words and should include:

• A clear statement of the OBJECTIVES

• A brief statement of the METHODS

• A summary of the RESULTS

• A statement of the CONCLUSIONS

• An explanation of the SIGNIFICANCE

The judges will evaluate the effectiveness of the abstract, as well as the quality of the poster per se and the oral presentation of the poster. They will also consider the grammatical correctness of all three of these components. It is also important to infuse these components with professional enthusiasm and intellectual excitement.

Poster format

Each poster display space is 5.5' (horizontal) by 4' (vertical).

Title, author names, and address should extend across the top of the poster. The left-hand fourth should contain the abstract in the upper area. Below that, begin the methods and materials section. The central half should include the body of information, including condensed data, graphs, and interpretation. The right-hand fourth should contain two sections: an upper portion should be a reduced list of Literature Citations, in which only the most important references are cited. Below that should be a clear enumeration of the Conclusions.

We recommend that all text be at least 16 pt with 1.5 spaces between lines. Single spacing is permissible in the materials and methods section and in the literature citations. Use a large font size for the poster, and a legible typeface. Use bullets to indicate key findings under graphs and tables. Only display the amount of text that you can expect the interested viewer to read in a crowded and noisy milieu.

We recommend that all graphics use thick lines, and the background should be without color. Labels should be in bold typeface.

We encourage presenters to invite a colleague to try to read their poster at 1.5 to 2 m distance. At that distance the important focal points should draw the attention of the reader. If they don't, adjust layout and eliminate extraneous material.

Poster content

The goal of your presentation is to convince the judges that you have done a good project and that you have a winning poster.

Remember that most of the judges are not as expert as you are in the work you did. Therefore a Sigma Xi SRS poster should be different from one presented at your professional society meeting.

You are answering five questions: What did you do, how did you do it, what did you find, why is it significant, and what comes next.

— Start with the hypothesis, plan or goal that you set out to address.

— Briefly describe your methods

— Show your findings, with clear graphs, tables, diagrams, clearly labeled

— In the summary and conclusions, indicate why your findings are significant, how they relate to your hypothesis, how they extend knowledge in the field, and what comes next.

Remember:  Posters are the vehicle for engaging the viewer's interest and guiding the oral presentation.  They are NOT the total presentation.

Oral Presentation

Lead the audience through your story; what do you want us to know? What is exciting or important about this study? What will be next? Make this step by step, and show the audience that you know what are the key issues and points.

Overall, present a clear flow, tell the judges what you want judged, and what comes next. Do not overwhelm the audience with detail.

Do NOT rely upon your excellent oratory; the judges first review your material without you present.

Logistics

Do not procrastinate when it comes time to print your poster, since many others will be demanding printing services before the symposium.

Some posters can be very stiff and don't roll out well for the poster holder units.  Plan ahead, reverse-roll the poster to counter the curl, and bring the proper adhesion mechanism (clips, pins, etc..)