Poster Presentation Guidelines

POSTER PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

Poster Display Dates and Hours

  • Posters must be placed on the assigned poster board number from 6:30pm – 8:30pm on Saturday, February 20.
  • Poster material must be removed from the board by 5:00pm on Monday, February 22.
  • The poster area will be open for viewing during the following dates and times:

    • Sunday, February 21               10:00am – 5:00pm
    • Monday, February 22              10:00am -5:00pm
  • Authors should be at their poster for presentation and discussion as follows:

Sunday, February 21
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Authors of ODD numbered poster boards present

Monday, February 22
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Authors of EVEN numbered poster boards present  

  • Recording (photographing, audio taping or videotaping) any presentation/session is PROHIBITED, except by individuals authorized by ABRF or by first authors who want to photograph their own poster presentation.

Posters should be readable by viewers from distances of at least 91.44 centimeters (3 feet) away.  The message should be clear and understandable.  The poster-board surface area is 44 inches (1.1m) high and 66 inches (1.7m) wide.  Prepare a 6 inch (0.15m) high headline strip that runs the full width of the poster.  Include the title, authors, and affiliations on the strip in letters not less than 1 inch (2.54 cm) high.

The following guidelines have been prepared to help improve the effectiveness of poster communication.

  1. Initial Sketch – Plan your poster early.  Focus your attention on a few key points.  Try various styles of data presentation to achieve clarity and simplicity.  Does the use of color help?  What needs to be expressed in words?  Suggest headlines and text topics.
  2. Rough Layout – Enlarge your best initial sketch, keeping the dimensions in proportion to the final poster (see diagram).  Ideally, the rough layout should be in full size.  A blackboard is a convenient place to work.  Print the title and headlines.  Indicate text by horizontal lines.  Draw rough graphs and tables.  This will give you a good idea of proportions and balance.  Ask associates for comments.  This is still an experimental stage.
  3. Final Layout – The artwork is complete.  The text and tables are typed, but not necessarily enlgarged to full size.  Now ask, is the message clear?  Do the important points stand out?  Is there a balance between works and illustrations?  is there spatial balance?  Is the pathway through the poster clear?
  4. Balance – The figures and tables should cover slightly more than 50% of the poster area.  If you have only a few illustrations, make them large.  Do not omit the text, but keep it brief.  The poster should be understandable without oral explanation.  Detailed information should be provided in smaller type below the heading.  Details of methodology should be brief and should be placed at the end of the legend.
  5. Topography – Avoid abbreviations, acronyms, and jargon.  Use a consistent font throughout.
  6. Eye Movement – The movement (pathway) of the eye over the poster should be natural, down the columns or along the rows.  Size attracts attention.  Arrows, pointing hands, numbers, and letters can help clarify the sequence.
  7. Simplicity – Resist the temptation to overload the poster.  More material may mean less communication.  Simple use of color can add effective emphasis.
  8. Mounting – Authors will be provided push pins for mounting his/her poster on the board.

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