How to Prepare a Proper Scientific Poster Presentation

It is crucial in science that the link between experimentation and communication is well developed. There are several methods that can be used to relay information gathered during experimentation; one of them is to create a poster documenting the process. There are critical elements and steps that need to be followed in the creation of a proper scientific poster presentation.

Begin the process with writing an abstract. In a brief two to three paragraphs, summarize for your audience what you are attempting to research. This will set the stage for the rest of the poster. Write a hypothesis or thesis statement based on the type of scientific endeavor you are attempting to communicate. Include records of any data or results from your experimentation and research.

Create a preliminary design for your poster, incorporating discussion of your topic, abstract, thesis or hypothesis; experiment or research methods; results and conclusions. Also include room in the preliminary layout for images, charts, tables and data results. You can enhance the look and professional appearance of your poster by adding relevant images, making it more attractive to your intended audience.

Work with an image-enhancing software program to design the poster on your computer. Use the various functions such as table or graph inserts and graphics to further communicate your results. The layout of your poster also needs to include any references that you used in obtaining your results.

Edit all elements of your poster. Look for any spelling or grammar mistakes and check all charts and graphs to make sure that they are properly labeled. Most word processing programs, such as Microsoft Office Word, have a built in spelling and grammar checker to help with this process.

Print out your poster and have it professionally laminated to keep it intact. If you do not have a printer available that is capable of printing poster-sized material, you can buy poster board and create the different elements on a word processor individually. Then print them out and attach them with an adhesive to the poster board. Laminating the final project is still a good idea to add a professional touch.