You’ve finished a research project and now you’re on to the final step: presenting your work! It’s time to share the incredible work you’ve done with the general public, and one of the best ways to do so is to create a poster conveying the significance and conclusions of your research. This will be an essential skill during your time at Princeton whether for a course or as a part of your junior and senior independent work. If this is your first time creating a poster presentation, check this blog out!
Presenting your research to a broad audience is just as important as writing a research paper. A poster presentation enables you to present your hard work both visually and orally, but there are some tips to keep in mind that will help you create the best possible presentation!
Generally, keep in mind who your audience is. This could vary from experts in your field to lay people who are interested in the topic. Create a poster presentation in which you’ll be able to approach a broad audience and explain your project idea in varying degrees of detail depending on who your audience is. Additionally, have your poster layout in a cohesive way where the audience can follow the order of your ideas on their own. Remember, you want to convey a story through your poster presentation.
For the content of your poster, you want to have a title, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, and references. Present a clear and original purpose through the main question you’re asking and demonstrate the big picture. Discuss relevant literature that presents the motivation for your work and why people should care about the project topic you’re pursuing. Describe the methodology you took to approach your topic and present the data as key takeaways you want your audience to have by the time you’re done.
One of the best ways to convey your ideas is through figures, such as graphs, with captions that elucidate the key idea of the figure. In the results section, try to avoid inundating your audience with too much information – think about what your audience might already know and what you want your audience to ultimately walk away with. Provide an analysis of the results relevant to your main question. What are the broader implications for society? Feel free to also incorporate visuals, such as a flow chart, that help depict the most relevant background information. Not only does this help keep your poster text to a minimum, but it also gives a fun and interesting way for readers to engage with your presentation.
Lastly, prepare yourself for some questions from your audience. Spend time clarifying any misunderstandings regarding your project and this is also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your thorough knowledge about the work you’ve done!
— Rebecca Cho, Natural Sciences Correspondent
