Preparing the material

Objectives, key message

 Introduce: what it is about, and why should
we be interested?
 Inform: have logical order and use
examples and data
 Persuade: convincing argument, use
evidence and show that you believe
 Highlight: current research, gaps of
knowledge
 Contents
 Since your poster is not your original work, the
IMRAD format with Introduction, Methods, Results
and Discussion, may not be appropriate.
 Main components:
 Introduction
 Main body – break down the topic into logical
subtopics
 Summary – main points, challenges or gaps of
information, recommendations
 References – bottom right; small font
 Provide sources for figures and pictures (below) and
tables (above); can use smaller font than the figure/
table legend
 Introduction
• Why the topic? significance? challenges?
• Why should the reader be interested in the
content to follow?
• Your industry: environmental problems and
sources, and the bigger picture and
implications (effects),
• Hence the concern and why your research –
i.e., your AIM
• You can not cover the whole picture (aim),
hence focus on specific problems for your
research - your objectives (achievable)
 Main Body
• Describe the main points:
• source, effect, magnitude of the environmental problem
• Organisations: policies, regulations, ethos, monitoring and
practicing what they say, research, etc.
• Current research on the topic, emerging technology and possible
implications
• Adopt a global perspective; very important! Why?
• Use pictures, drawings, charts, tables: don’t include
pictures for the sake of it
• Evidence: include data, statistics wherever possible, and
provide sources for reference (remember this is a
scientific presentation, not an advert!)
• Where possible, provide historical timeline
• Avoid sensationalism!
• Check the content has addressed the topic
 Summary
• Draw the main points together to emphasise
the significance of your objectives
• Gaps of knowledge still to be answered
• What would be your recommendations? for
e.g., in education, public knowledge,
influencing policies?
• Thank the audience and invite questions
 References

• Acknowledge sources by using in-text

citations and a reference list at the end of
the poster
• bottom, right in small font; subtopic title
(References) should be in the same format as the
rest of the poster
• Use Harvard referencing
• Provide sources for figures, pictures, and
tables (citation at the end of their legend,
and include full details in the reference list)
 Format
You can follow a format/ structure that will
best illustrate the topic you have chosen
(linear/ circular arguments).
Linear: best format using columns from left
to right (not reading across the whole
width of the poster); 2 or 3 columns
Break your text with pictures, figures, lists,
etc. instead of chunks of text which will
make reading difficult and the poster
unappealing.
POSTER TITLE
Names Linear Layout
and format
 Title running along the top,
large font
 Names in smaller font than
title
 Content text should be
readable from 1 m; title from
even further away (you want
to attract an audience)
 References at the end in
small font
 Poster with Landscape Layout: Title of Poster in Calibri, Bold, 60-80 Points
Names of Authors in Calibri, 44 Points, Bold
Sponsor Logo Institution Logo
Department in 40 points bold
Institution in 40 points bold

Heading (Calibri: 44 Points, Bold) Heading (Calibri: 44 Points, Bold)

The first section of the poster should define the topic and show its importance. A One section of a poster should present the results. Often the results can be depicted
good test is whether the poster can orient the audience to these two aspects in 20 with graphs, such as for an experiment, or with drawings such as with a design.
seconds. Shown in Figure 1 are two possible layouts for a poster. This section was set in Shown in Figure 3 are two more possible layouts for a poster. This section was set in
Calibri, boldface, 36 points. Calibri, boldface, 36 points. Note that the amount of type in the sections affects the
choice, size, and boldfacing of the typeface. No matter the type that you select for the
For posters that present one main result, a good design is to cast the title as a sentence that sections, you should still use a bold sans serif for the headings.
Phrase Headline That Is Set in Initial Capital Letters states the result

For posters that present one main result, a good design is to cast the title as a sentence that
Phrase Headline That Is Set in Initial Capital Letters states the result

i i

Figure 1. Two possible layouts for poster (caption: 32 points, bold).

Heading (Calibri: 44 Points, Bold) Figure 3. Two more possible layouts for poster (caption: 32 points, bold).

The second section of the poster might serve a number of purposes: background
information, methods, or system design. An important point with posters is to rely on Heading (Calibri 44 Points)
visuals rather than longs blocks of text to communicate. Figure 2 shows two more possible
layouts for posters. This section was set in Calibri, boldface, 36 points. The final section of the poster generally provides conclusions and recommendations.
This section was set in Calibri, boldface, 36 points. As with the first section, this section is
Phrase Headline That Is Set in Initial Capital Letters
For posters that present one main result, a good design is to cast the title as a sentence that
states the result read by most passers-by.

References (Calibri, 36 points, bold)

First reference in Calibri, 32 points, with reverse indent: alphabetical or numerical order.
Second reference in Calibri, 32 points, with reverse indent: alphabetical or numerical order.

Figure 2. Two other possible layouts for poster (caption: 32 points, bold).
 Do’s and Don’ts
Use a graphic hierarchy that reflects the relative
importance of various aspects
Show! Don’t tell. No need to write down every
detail.
Use simple graphs and tables: they tell more
than paragraphs.
All figures/ tables need legends (Tables- at the
top, figures- bottom), and they should be
numbered.
Provide source (small font)
Make labels, and axes titles clearly visible;
include units of measurements as required.
 Do’s and Don’ts, Contd.
NO pictures just to impress!
There should be a purpose; figures and
tables should be discussed or referred to
in the poster.
Use reasonable amount of colour/
background. Avoid heavy colours!
Be friendly to the environment (not so critical
when you have an e-poster, but light colours
are friendly to our eyes)
 Which one is a good poster?
What is wrong with the bad poster?
 References
Weblinks for guidelines and example posters

http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters
http://www.writing.engr.psu.edu/samples/poster6.pdf

http://www.writing.engr.psu.edu/posters.html
 Guidelines on Marking Criteria
 Subject matter researched and available references
consulted? Content addresses the topic?
 Timing – 5 minutes
 Delivery – not read out
 Questions – ability to answer/ handle
 Content presented in a clear, concise manner?
 Grammar, punctuation, spelling
 Structure and presentation: easy to follow? does the
information flow well and make a good story?
 Font size appropriate? (title, subtitle, table, chart, etc.) too
much text to read? Aim for the poster to be read from 1 m.
Consistent in font type and style?
 Information presented appropriate and appealing to
audience?
 Key references listed? sources (pictures, charts, drawings,
etc.) acknowledged in content slides?
 Collaborative Project Work
Assessed by your tutors and other staff in HSB
The task must be shared equally within the group
Group activities will be visible on Teams within your
Poster Group, but tutors can not monitor all; hence
members should be proactive in engaging other
members; if problems, please try to resolve them
within the group
Remember the objectives of this exercise: developing
team work, negotiating, communication skills
Group members given the same mark provided they
contributed (discuss with Module Tutors if problems
persist, but do not wait until the last minute)
N.B. Warning for “ghost” members! Exclusion from
Group
 PP slide for Preparing Posters
• Work in PowerPoint and prepare a series of slides
with content – ready to go !
• Create a separate file where you will produce a
single giant slide – your poster
• Printed poster: usually size A0 (84.1 cm width/ 119.0
cm Height) in portrait
• Change Page setup to the size required
• Select “Design” on toolbar, go to “Slide Size” and
choose “Custom slide size” and adjust to size A0
as given above.
• Copy-paste content from your content slides to the
poster slide, and make adjustments
 Useful tips
• You may lose form and shape of features
when copy-pasting, and while working
within the poster page
• Use “Group” feature to group all pieces to
be copy-pasted together
• Once you move to your poster slide, you
can “Ungroup” when you need to edit
individual pieces