Research Poster Presentation

Proofread

Just as you would with a research paper, make sure you proofread your poster. If you think you have caught every typo, set it aside for a day and look at it with fresh eyes. 

Share your poster with a couple reviewers and be explicit about what you want them to focus on, whether that is content, aesthetics, or both. If you are presenting at an interdisciplinary conference, it is especially helpful to share your poster with someone outside your discipline. They will be able to tell you if your content is understandable or if you have used too much discipline-specific lingo.

Print a tiny version

Once you have incorporated peer feedback and feel your poster is complete, print it out on 8.5" x 11" paper. If your text is legible when printed at this size, it is a good indication that it will be easily read when printed at the final dimensions.

Send to printer

You have caught all your typos, made all last-minute edits, and verified that the text will be appropriately sized. You can now send your poster to be printed! Double-check preferred format with the printing service you intend to use; some prefer image files while others prefer PDFs. Plan well in advance in case the printer has a large number of jobs ahead of yours. When you pick up your poster from the printer, verify that it was printed to the dimensions you specified. You may also want to ask if they can spare a box or poster tube so you can safely transport your poster.

Are you presenting your poster virtually? Watch the video below to learn how to zoom to content in PowerPoint.