May 2025:
This guide is under construction. Please check back for additional content and updates. If you have any questions, please email the library at library@saybrook.edu.
A research poster is a visual tool that allows to present your research in a graphic way. A research poster should be designed to attract attention and convey information in a clear and organized way. Well-designed posters should work to create conversation between the researcher and the individuals viewing the poster.
Your research poster will be large (usually 36 x 48 inches) and will be printed on high-quality poster paper. You need to have your poster printed professionally.
What should a research poster contain?
The same major sections as a research paper and some additional identifying information:
A poster session or poster presentation is the presentation of research information by an individual or representatives of research teams at a congress or conference with an academic or professional focus. A poster session is an opportunity for you to share your research in a creative, visual way. Poster sessions will usually be scheduled for 1-1.5 hours, but may vary with each conference.
Most of the time, each scholar will be given an easel, a cardboard support, or a corkboard (often with 48" width X 36" height) in order to support the poster. You may be responsible for bringing your own push pins or tape.
Colleagues and peers will move informally between the posters while presenters typically give a brief (1-2 minute) talk about their research and answer questions. If people are reading your poster, you can say "Please let me know if you have any questions" to indicate that it is your poster.
Participants usually will be dressed in business/professional attire.
Poster sessions have 3 common components:
Your poster should be an outline of your research with interesting commentary about what you learned along the way.
Be prepared to discuss your research in more depth with attendees who have questions. Some attendees could ask you to describe your research without reading your poster. Prepare a short "elevator speech" to explain your study's main purpose and findings. This should be no longer than 1 minute.
The handout is a networking tool. In addition to a brief summary of your poster, it should give potential colleagues information about your past and future research AND your contact information.
All three components should complement one another, not repeat each other. Ask the conference organizers ahead of time if you will have a small table for your handouts and/or business cards. You may not want to hold anything in case some one would like to shake your hand.