presentation resources

General information on preparing an effective poster can be found on many websites located below. One can also Google "poster presentations" and come up with many additional helpful sites:

General links to faqs on Poster Presentations
Preparing Effective Posters
Designing Effective Posters
Writing Guides for Poster Sessions

These websites include a few consistent messages:
1. Be simple; don't include too much
2. Think big; everything should be legible from 6-10 feet away
3. Be colorful; use color to provide both consistency and highlights

And remember, most poster viewers will not be as knowledgeable as you are about your area of study - keep the poster simple and offer more detail in your discussions. Beyond that, be creative but not outlandish.

 

icru's frequently asked questions

How do I make a poster?

• Poster size – 3 X 4 or less (posters bigger than this can be used, but some of the poster will not be on the board. If you already have a printed poster, there is no need to print another one, unless you want to.)
• Should include your name (with additional authors, mentors, etc, research department area(s), and institution.
• ICRU will provide tacks, etc to attach posters.
• ICRU will provide numbers for each poster (these correspond to the numbers in the program)

Where do I print my poster?

• Many students ask where to print their posters. Here are some resources that I have collected. If your department is not listed below then we are unsure if they have a printer. Contact your mentor to discuss printing options and costs. ICRU is unable to sponsor funding for printing posters for SURF and FURF.
• UI Printing and Mailing Services can print in house. The charge for large-format printing is $2.50 per linear inch (1”x48”). They may soon be able to laminate these posters, too. Everything is on line, so students may send files over the web. They accept University IDs, cash, checks, UI requisitions, and “m-numbers” (standing accounts) as payment.
• Design Center in the Department of Internal Medicine at the UIHC is also able to provide poster printing for students (as well as faculty and staff). They charge $6 per square foot (e.g., 3’ x 4’ poster = 12 sq ft = $72). They offer full color printing on either matte or semi-gloss finish, and turn-around time is usually 1-2 days. They accept cash, check and University MFK accounts as payment. Poster files can be emailed or brought directly to their office on a memory stick or CD.
  
  
• 2008 Copy Works costs (Coralville) pricing is $8.95/sq ft for color
• $4.95 per print for black and white (width 3ft by 4ft with $1.00 each additional foot)

• 2008 Zephyr costs (East Side) – (downtown doesn’t do it) $ 7.50 a sq ft. for color and one time $10 set up fee & $ .45 for sq ft and one time $10 set up fee

• The following offices have printers and can print them if you are in their department only.Departments would need to provide an MFK Number to the Primary Investigator and prior approval is needed. They do not take cash.Prices may vary - Rough Draft paper $20-$30 Glossy Paper $50.00+
  • Microbiology
    Anatomy and Cell Biology
    Bio Chemistry
    Pharmacology
    Psychology
    Geography

What do I wear?

• Professional Attire and Grooming
• Appropriate but Comfortable Shoes

What To Bring to the Event?

• Poster
  You
  Optional (copies of your completed paper, or anything else that will help with your presentation.)

What is the schedule for the event?

• Each resarch conference is different. Check the schedule to find out more information.

What do I do/How do I talk about my research?

• Stand by your poster to answer questions/talk about your research.
• Having fun is the most important objective for the day
• Your poster is a vehicle for conversation.
• Minimize the writing and maximize the visual impact on your poster. (Make it interesting!)Have ONE basic sentence to explain your project.
• Try to engage the viewer – Ask them questions too. This is a conversation!
• People will know very little about your topics. Take an elementary approach at first. Then beef it up if they want to know more!
• Steer away from words/jargon that are too “Profession specific.” (Technical terms sound good, but may lose the viewer.)Find a way to relate your project to the person you are talking too. Smile, Relax, Enjoy
• If appropriate, connect with the viewer by asking for a business card, etc.
• Bring a pen to write down any contacts, etc.

What did I forget to ask?

• Add this to your resume!
• Talk about this experience in your Interview conversations
• Ask for Business cards of people that you would like to contact again!
• Send thank you notes! (Thank you notes, are a nice touch, especially to your mentor, and anyone who you had a good conversation with – don’t forget this is networking too!)

© The University of Iowa 2007 • Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates • Email: icru@uiowa.edu