Resources

Posters are a special type of presentation When well designed, they are not simply the pasting of a scholarly article on poster board or foam-core. Nor are they mounted sets of presentation visuals. The poster presentation should represent a “...well-designed, eye-catching, and engaging... display of research or scientific information.” The poster should convey the results of research activities as to promote the scientific achievements of the poster's presenter.

This webpage offers an inventory of print and Internet resources that provide guidance and instruction for the presentation of scientific and technical information in the form of a poster presentation.

Research Poster Guides

To learn more about how to prepare an abstract, a poster presentation or present to a group check out our how-to guide:
Abstract HOW-TO

Includes information on:

  • poster layout, sections to include, dos and don’ts, and presenting your poster
  • Step-by-step approach to creating effective posters
  • Tips on conference posters and presentations

Designing Posters for a Poster Fair:
http://www.personal.psu.edu/drs18/postershow/

Designing scientific posters:
http://colinpurrington.com/tips/academic/posterdesign  

Ten simple rules for a good poster presentation:
http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.0030102

Poster presentations: designing effective posters:
http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/bio/posters.html

Sample Layouts/Templates

Designing scientific posters:
http://colinpurrington.com/tips/academic/posterdesign

 Microsoft office:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates

UofC Research poster examples (DSpace):
https://dspace.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/47623 (browse all titles)

Large Format Printing

Students’ Union Bound & Copied:
http://www.su.ucalgary.ca/page/quality-education/academic-services/bound-and-copied

Multimedia Services (Health Sciences):
http://ucalgary.ca/instructionalresources/Multimedia

Project Imagine (Main Campus):
http://imagine.ucalgary.ca/printing

Books

Gosling PJ. 1999. Scientist's guide to poster presentations.

  • More detail, many examples, dos & don’ts

Nicol AAM, Pexman, PM. 2003. Displaying your findings: a practical guide for creating figures, posters, and presentations.

  • One chapter on posters. Covers the basics, has a checklist and sample

Fraser, Jane. 1954. Creating effective conference abstracts and posters in biomedicine: 500 tips for success

  • For researchers and academics
  • Tips for creating abstracts and posters for conference presentations

Gosling, Peter J. Scientist's guide to poster presentations

  • Step by step guide for creating effective posters

Nicol, Adelheid A. M. Displaying your findings: a practical guide for creating figures, posters, and presentations

  • Designed especially for students, researchers, and presenters in psychology and behavioral sciences
  • Tips on conference posters and presentations