Guidelines for OCIP Student Seminars

 

Revised May 2025

[Tips adapted from ISMRM]

A traditional poster presentation combines a visual display on a poster board of the highlights of research with a question-and-answer opportunity. You will be assigned a one-hour period during which you should be present at your poster for discussion and questions. In addition, the posters will be available for viewing by attendees during all hours the poster area is open. 

When your session begins, please stand next to your poster and be ready to present your work. Ask visitors to your poster their backgrounds, so that you can adjust your presentation to their expertise and interests. Be brief to give time for questions and be able to meet other attendees. 

Measurements

Each presenter is assigned a square space with maximum dimensions of 120 x 120 cm (approx. 47 x 47 inches). You are not required to completely fill this space, but posters should not exceed these measurements, otherwise they may encroach on the border and areas reserved for other posters.

Printing: At Carleton, The Print Shop ( https://carleton.ca/theprintshop ) can print your poster for you. You can pay for the printing yourself or your supervisor can submit a printing request through e-Shop.

At UO, the DocuCentre, located in the Unicentre can print your poster. You simply email them the pdf of your poster at reproatuottawa [dot] ca with an account number and the size of your poster. The largest size that would fit nicely on the poster boards is about 44” x 44”. Make sure that your file, preferably a pdf, has the resolution required to print clearly as a poster. For instance, if using ppt to design your poster, choose under Design, Slide Size and in the drop-down menu enter the “Custom Slide Size” that corresponds to your poster size. It is preferable to submit a pdf version for printing to avoid movement on your poster. When you save your ppt as a pdf, it should preserve the size of your ppt. But it is wise to check under Properties that the page is indeed the size of your ppt. You will need a budget code from your research group to pay for the poster. You can also submit in person at Docucentre. 

Make sure your print job will be finished in time. Allow for at least three days, even if two days may be sufficient. Call the printer ahead of time to confirm how much time is required for printing.

Mounting: Posters should be designed and printed so that they can be attached to the poster board with pushpins, which will be found at each poster board.

Suggestions for Preparing Scientific Posters

Content 

  • The poster should show the full title of your submission.
  • Text should be brief and well organized, presenting only enough data to support your conclusions.
  • The text should make clear the significance of your research.
  • The text should include (most likely as separate elements of the poster) background, your hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions.

Design

  • A clear, simple, uncluttered arrangement is the most attractive and the easiest to read.
  • For best legibility, it is suggested that the title lettering be at least 2 inches (5cm) tall (font size about 80pt), with authors’ names and affiliations smaller.
  • All lettering should be legible from a distance of approximately 5 feet (1.5m). It is suggested that font size should be at least 24-point, or larger. The typeface chosen should be simple and clear (e.g., Helvetica, Arial, Times).
  • Be strategic where you put your important figures and content. For instance, avoid having all the interesting results buried in the lower right corner of your poster.
  • Color should be used sparingly to provide contrast. The featured parts of the poster can be highlighted with warm colors, and the less important parts can be done in cool colors. Some suggestions for color combinations are as follows: Green on white, red on white, black on white, blue on white, white on blue, and white on black.
  • Illustrations should be simple and eye-catching, with unnecessary detail left out. If possible, convert tables to graphic displays. Pie graphs can be used to show parts of a whole, line graphs can be used to show trends or changing relationships, and bar graphs can be used to show volumes.
  • Photos should be enlarged enough to show relevant detail.
  • Standard computer printouts usually are not effective on posters because the type is too small, and the lines are too thin to be seen from a distance.
  • If working on human subjects (e.g., in medical physics), patient confidentiality must be protected. No names or fully exposed faces should appear in illustrations or images.