These guidelines will help you develop your poster presentation for the Forum on Aging.
There are several ways to create a scientific poster, but its main purpose is to present your research in a clear and concise format that is easily read from a distance, usually 4 to 10 feet away.
Recommended Format
- Title
- Author(s) and Affiliations
- Introduction (research problem, justification, research questions, objectives, hypothesis/expected results)
- Purpose (you can include the purpose in the introduction or as its own section)
- Materials and Methods (study design, sampling information, brief description of procedures and analyses, brief description of what was collected/measured/observed, i.e., the data)
- Results and Discussion (findings; explain the results)
- Conclusion (answer your objectives—this is not a summary of the work)
- References (limit to a few key references that are cited in your poster)
- Acknowledgments (funding/research grant, individuals who helped you)
Software
BioRender is a web-based program that helps you create scientific figures and posters. To access UTMB's BioRender license, log in through the UTMB login portal. This tutorial provides design tips for creating better scientific posters. There are also tip sheets: BioRender 101 and Top Design Tips for Better Posters (these links might require your login to access them).
Templates
UTMB also has templates you can use to create your poster: (click “Poster template” at the bottom of the page). Your poster must fit the poster board provided at the Forum. The board is 6 feet long and 4 feet tall. Handouts are optional and can include the abstract, reference list, or entire poster reduced in size.
Things to Remember
Plan the flow. Your poster should follow a logical progression from introduction to conclusion. The flow of information on posters generally moves from top to bottom and left to right. Consider using arrows if you deviate from this standard.
Readability.
Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away. The text should be clear and to the point. Use bullets, numbering, and headlines to improve readability.
- Fonts: Use no more than two fonts. Stick with basic fonts, such as Times
New Roman (for serif) or Arial (for sans-serif). Avoid elaborate, hard-to-read, or cartoon-like fonts. Be consistent in your use of bold, italics, or underlining.
- Font size guidance: Do not use a font size smaller than 24pt. Be consistent,
e.g., use the same font size for all headings, use the same font size for all body text, etc. References, acknowledgments, and table and figure captions can have a smaller font than the body text.
- Text alignment: Left justify the body text.
Do not fully justify (like a newspaper column); that is harder to read. Titles, headings, and captions can be centered, but not the body text.
- Effective use of graphics: Keep text to a minimum. Instead, use figures and tables to engage your audience
and focus their attention. Include a variety of figures, such as graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, images, or photographs. For example, illustrate your techniques or experimental plans as diagrams, organize data in tables, and present results in graphs
or charts (followed by bullet points that summarize major findings). Only use high-quality and high-resolution figures; images and photographs should have a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Number and title figures and tables; include captions below
that describe the figure or explain the data or information in the table.
Aesthetics matter. Your poster should have a consistent and clean layout. Balance text, graphics, and white space.
Tell the story of your research.
- What problem or question
did you address?
- What approach did you take?
- Did you use any unusual techniques?
- What did you find out? What did the results tell you?
- What is the most important/interesting/astounding finding from your research project?
- Why was this project worth doing?
- What conclusions did you draw based on your research?
- If you could continue with the project, what would you do next?
Few people will know as much about your topic as you. Make the story of your
research easy for them to understand. A good poster will stimulate questions and conversation. Be prepared to answer questions!
Printing Your Poster
Email your poster to print.order@utmb.edu. Include your phone number and a project or class number
for payment.
**The maximum height for UMTB Print Shop printing is 42” (3.5’).
ALLOW FOR A 3-DAY TURNAROUND TIME AFTER YOU SUBMIT YOUR POSTER ONLINE. Posters ordered through the UTMB Print Shop will be delivered to the Moody Medical Library,
2nd Floor Access Center.
Presenting
You will be given a program, specifying the location number for your poster, at the registration desk located at the entrance of the dining room. Remember to sign in when you register. You will pin your poster on
a 6’ x 4’ board set up in the Levin Hall Dining Room. The boards have a metallic frame and dark blue material background. Pins will be provided.
You can register and set up your poster as early as 3:00 PM. Poster viewing is from 5:00-6:30
PM. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Judging will occur from 5:00-6:00 PM. The presentation of student and fellow poster awards will begin at 6:30 PM. You must remove your poster at the conclusion of the poster session.
If you
have questions, contact Stephanie Burt, MS at (409) 266-9675 or stburt@utmb.edu. If you need assistance with poster editing, contact Amber McIlwain, MS at (409) 266-9625 or asmcilwa@utmb.edu.