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Posters, Presentations & Science Writing: Prepare

use this guide to create a successful science poster presentation.

Parts of a poster

KEY PARTS of a science poster: Title | Introduction | Materials & Methods | Results | Conclusion | Questions | Future, will vary according to subject, audience and requirements.

Follow a template (Divan, 2009; Hofmann, 2010)

TITLE

  • Good titles are clear & capture the essence of the research topic, approach, and results.
  • Include authors' names, institutions, and contact details.

INTRODUCTION

  • State your research question & objectives clearly.  Be brief.
  • Provide the topic background - particularly, how your research fits into the context.
  • Give an overview and a justification of your experimental methods.

MATERIALS & METHODS

  • Explain your experimental procedures with illustrations like flow charts or reaction diagrams.

RESULTS

  • Most of your content will be in this section. Use photographs, figures, graphs, and tables when possible.

CONCLUSION

  • Summarize the main findings and provide interpretations.

FURTHER QUESTIONS / FUTURE RESEARCH

  • Offer suggestions for future exploration.

REFERENCES

  • Include citations to the scientific literature used.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (optional)

  • Thank others for their research assistance, funding, supervision, or other contributions.

Adhere to requirements

  • Follow the poster requirements specified by your instructor.
  • Write according to your audience’s level of understanding.
  • Do not exceed size restrictions (e.g., 42 x 48 inches maximum).
  • Aim for less than 200 words per poster section (Purrington, 2010).

Handouts

PREPARE A HANDOUT
Allows your audience to review your research after the presentation. Try printing your poster in miniature. The other side of your handout may provide research details and your contact information.