Presenting Research on a Trifold or Poster

Posters are widely used in the academic community, and most conferences include poster presentations in their program.  Research posters summarize information or research concisely and attractively to help publicize it and generate discussion. 

The poster is usually a mixture of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view the presentation and interact with the author.

Components of a Research Poster

• Title (Authors and Institutional Affiliation)

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results / Findings

• Discussion / Conclusions

• Acknowledgements

• References

• Contact Information

What Makes a Good Research Poster?

• Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away

• Title is short and draws interest

• Word count of about 300 to 800 words

• Text is clear and to the point

• Use of bullets, numbering, and headlines makes it easy to read

• Effective use of graphics, color, and fonts

• Consistent and clean layout

• Includes acknowledgments, your name, and institutional affiliation

Tips!!

1. Think of your poster as a conversation starter

2. Know your audience

3. Know the story you’re trying to tell

4. Create an outline and draft your content

5. Use design best practices

6. Prepare to network and present your poster

7. Engage your audience