Guiding all design decisions should be good understanding of the purpose of the finished product. Research posters serve a different purpose than a research paper; as a result, they should look quite different! Most likely, you have already written an abstract for your research paper - think of your poster as an illustrated abstract.
Research posters exist to:
With this purpose in mind, they should:
Remember, your poster is like a short story. Keep it brief, and just describe the major points of your research.
Give your project a brief, descriptive title that conveys the issue and your experimental approach. (1-2 lines)
Just kidding! Do not include an abstract. Your research poster is your abstract.
Why is your topic interesting? There must be a reason you chose to research this, so convey that to your audience.
Provide the following: (200 words)
What experimental equipment and procedures did you use? Briefly describe these. This section is an excellent opportunity for graphical depictions of your process, like a figure or flow chart.
Provide the following: (200 words)
This section will be your largest section, and should include both quantitative and qualitative information.
Provide the following: (250 words)
Summarize the major result, or take-away message, of your research and reiterate whether your hypothesis was supported. Convince the reader that your outcome was interesting and relevant. (200 words)
Literature Cited: Cite the most important literature, carefully following your field's main citation style.
Acknowledgments: Thank individuals who supported your research and organizations who funded your research. Include logos here.
Further Information: Provide your contact information.