SCCUR - Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research

SCCUR - Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research

For Poster Presenters

Instructions

Logistics: Posters will be presented in three sessions, Poster Session I, II, and III. A tentative schedule of poster session times are: Poster Session I is from 11:00 a.m. - noon, Poster Session II from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., and Poster Session III from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. You can determine which poster session you are in by logging on to this website November 10th and viewing an electronic version of the poster listings. Also, you should receive notification by email on November 10th. Posters are listed in alphabetical order by the last name of presenting authors. Each name and poster presentation will be identified as either Poster Session I, II, or III. Also, following registration, a schedule will be available that lists all presentations and the sessions in which they are placed.

Poster Presenters in the first session (Poster Session I) will set up their posters upon arrival, immediately after registering (7:30 - 8:30 a.m.). Poster Presenters in all other sessions will set up their posters 30 minutes prior to the session scheduled time. And finally, Poster Presenters in the third session will set up their posters at 3:20 p.m. The conference will provide poster boards, 4 X 4 feet in dimension. Horizontal format, 4 feet high by 5 feet wide. We recommend a 48 X 60 inch size poster, which is the maximum height allowed by standard poster printers. Under no circumstance make a poster larger than 48 X 60 inches, the maximum size of the poster board (4 X 4 feet).

It is usually best to carry posters rolled up in a tube, for easy transport. The poster boards utilize magnets which will be provided. There will be storage available for posters at the conference, we have a room in the library that will serve as the holding area. Make certain to place your name, address, and cell phone number on the poster tube, in large, bold print, before arrival, for quick identification and retrieval.

Title: The title should be short, descriptive, and centered across the top of your poster. The title should identify the subject and outcome of the study. Words should not be abbreviated in the title. The title should be easily readable from 5-10 feet away, and letters should be no less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) high. The title should have the first letter of major words in upper case, the rest in lower case.

Names: All authors' names and affiliations should appear directly below the title, and should be about 25% smaller than the title. Include authors' first and last names. Use abbreviations where appropriate.

The Body of the Poster: Besides an abstract, the poster for an empirical study normally includes an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and literature cited sections. Non-empirical studies should be organized appropriately for the discipline.

Graphics: A poster is a visual representation of your study and thus should constitute a large portion of your poster. Graphics should be visible from 6 feet away. A number and a short "caption" should identify each graphic.

Text: Font size should not be smaller than 3 - 4 mm in height. No text should be less than 20 pt. For headings, use bold font that is 32 - 36 pt. For supporting text use 22 - 24 pt. Keep font type simple and consistent throughout. Use upper and lower-case letters; all upper case is difficult to read.

Guidelines

If you are displaying a poster, you will be given the specific location of your poster at registration. Posters are listed in alphabetical order by first author and assigned either to poster session I, II, or III. Poster Session I is from 11:00 - 12 noon, Poster Session II from 1:00 - 2:00 pm, and Poster Session III from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Please mount your poster at least 10 minutes before your assigned session and leave it up throughout the session.

During the poster session, stand to the side of your display so that you don't block viewers. Prepare and practice a two-minute summary of your project. Often viewers ask for a synopsis of your ideas and findings. This time dialogue and exchange of ideas facilitates networking with interested viewers. It is important to speak and interact professionally. You will also receive insightful feedback and personal exposure during the poster session. Furthermore, you will enjoy interaction with other poster presenters during the alternate poster session (either Session I, II, or III).

Poster presentations should be no larger than 4 feet high by 5 feet long (4' X 5'). Note, posters are in a horizontal format so words, figures, pictures, and tables are approximatly eye level. NO TAPE, VELCRO, GLUESTICKS, or other permanent fasteners should be used.

Space on a poster is limited, so pick wisely what to present. Your display should be self-explanatory and have a logical flow—others should be able to follow the order even if you are not present. Start with a rough draft of your design on paper, using graph paper or post-it notes to simulate sections.

Place your title at the top of the poster and make certain that the text is large (usually at least 2 inches in height) and clear. Use upper and lower case letters. All authors' names and affiliations should appear directly blow the title, and should be about 25% smaller than the title. Include authors' and co-authors' first and last names. Include the name of faculty mentor (s). Incorporate appropriate graphics in your poster. Label or describe any charts, tables, figures, graphs, or photos that you use. A number and a short "caption" should identify each figure, table, chart, or photo. Edit, review, and spell check all the elements of your poster display.

Remember:

  • Titles should be at least 2 inches high.
  • Don't use more than two fonts. Instead use bold, italic and font size to set type differently. Times New Roman, Arial, and Garamond are suggested typefaces.
  • The body type for the main sections should be at least 20 points.
  • Words should be large enough to be easily read from 6 feet away; but don't use all caps.
  • Stick to a color scheme that complements, contrasts, and gives continuity to your poster.
  • Be consistent with your white space between sections of text, figures and headings. White space should be ample so the poster doesn't look crammed.
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