IM-SURE Program The University of Montana Summer 2014

A Paper on a Poster Research papers and posters contain most of the same information. Posters are a more succinct method of communicating your research. More dependent on photos, figures, tables, and graphs. Minimize “walls of text,” jargon, acronyms, & equations (dependent on audience).

Goals of a Poster What do you want your viewer to remember about your research? Communicate the overall idea of your research. Even if your audience forgets the details, they should be able to remember the general idea of your research. Verbal explanations are key.

Dis cussing/Defending a Poster You should be able to discuss your research including: Why the research was done? Why is it significant? Why did you choose the methods you used? What you think the results will be if you’re still in the experimental phase, or – What your results are. General conclusions/future directions. What areas of research or which experiments you would like to do next to continue the research?

Templates Available in PowerPoint and easily found on the web. Common templates are two-four columns of information, usually split into distinct units. The OREOS Undergraduate Research Symposium size is 3’H x 4’L (36”x48”).

Make photos, figures, graphs, etc high resolution for clarity. Use font large enough to be read from 1-2 feet. Title: 85 ptParagraphs: 24 ptCaptions: 18 pt Be careful with your color schemes. Very high or low contrast combinations can be hard or impossible to read. Yellow on white Turquoise on black Also, some color themes have cultural/social associations: Green and red – Christmas Orange and black – Halloween Design

Poster Sections Title Abstract Introduction/Background Hypothesis Methods & Materials Results/Predicted Results Discussion/Predicted Outcomes Citations/Acknowledgements

Title & Abstract Title Make it interesting. Part of the introduction. Limited to two lines. Abstract Keep it short, ~250 words. Should summarize your research.

Introduction Introduction & Background Get your viewer interested. Provide context and the minimum background needed to understand your research. Should include your objectives and hypothesis. Illustrate.

Methods Keep the text brief. However, be able to explain your methods to your viewer should they want more detail. Use flow charts, tables, and pictures to explain your experimental design. Be sure to mention any computational analyses.

Results Did the experiment work? Briefly describe the outcome of your experiment. Include tables, charts, and graphs to communicate your results. Good figures will allow the viewer to understand the results without reading the rest of the poster. If you’re still in the process of getting data, state what you think the results might be or what the early data indicate.

Discussion Generally restate your hypothesis. State whether your hypothesis was supported; or not. Discuss why your results are conclusive, important, and/or meaningful. Mention future directions of the research. If you don’t have enough data for meaningful discussion, discuss the future direction of your experiments and analysis.

Citations & Acknowledgments Your citation list should be short (10 or less). Only cite what you discussed specifically on the poster. Use a standard science format (e.g. ASM). Acknowledgements should be given to your mentors, others who provided laboratory or analytical assistance, and your funding source.

Poster Session – July 31 st Posters need to be submitted to Jay Bruns no later than Tuesday, July 29 th for printing. Poster printing request form may be found on the IM- SURE website. Posters will be on display from 1:00p-4:00p. Students will be required to be present at their poster from 1:30p-3:30p while evaluators are circulating. Students will be expected to be able to discuss their research. Students will have the opportunity to read other posters.