Historically American.  Uniquely Caribbean.  Globally Interactive. 
 
Emerging Caribbean Scientists Programs 
#2 John Brewer’s Bay ● St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands 00802 ● Tel:  (340) 693-1232 ● Fax:  (340) 693-1245 ● http://ecs.uvi.edu 
 
 
How to Present a Poster 
 
The ingredients of a good poster are: 
1. Title 
- 
Reveals findings and attracts interest 
- 
Legible from across the room (letters at least 4 cm high) 
- 
Placed at the top of the poster. 
2. Names of authors, their addresses or affiliations, contact info. (usually placed below the title) 
3. Written text  
- 
Legible from 1 m away (letters at least 1 cm high) 
- 
With subheadings (should use larger font) 
- 
The sections usually are 
Abstract  
i. 
less than 250 words 
ii. 
may use smaller font 
Introduction  
i. 
include: background, importance, & hypothesis (or questions) 
ii. 
need not be labeled 
Materials & Methods (keep it simple!) 
Results (Data) 
Discussion 
(optional) Conclusions 
Acknowledgements 
Literature Cited (may use smaller font) 
- 
Good grammar is essential.  (Spell check it & get someone to proofread.) 
- 
Brevity is the key!  (Use bullet points where possible.) 
4. Tables & Figures (title letters at least 2 cm high; caption letters at least 1 cm high) 
- 
Have brief captions  
i. explain what the table or figure tells you 
ii. tables and figures should stand alone 
- 
Poster text should refer to each table and figure 
- 
Simplicity is the key!  (Eliminate all extraneous information.) 
5. Aesthetic appeal (attractive, professional, uncluttered, splash of color) 
 
The ingredients of a good poster presentation are: 
1. A good poster 
2. A good understanding of the material 
3. Practice 
 
Hints:   
• 
Don’t check your poster with your luggage.  Carry it on the plane.  
• 
Know the required poster format for the conference, and conform to the requirements.  
• 
Know how posters will be hung, and come prepared with your own Velcro, pushpins, or poster board.    
• 
Hang your poster well in advance of the presentation time.  
• 
Bring handouts (business cards, abstract, pamphlet, or mini-poster)  
• 
Dress appropriately.  
 
Additional information available at http://courses.uvi.edu/BIO/posterlinks.html 
Developed by Dr. Alice Stanford, astanfo@uvi.edu