Scientific Poster Presentation Tips

You've planned, you've designed, you've printed.  All that's left is the poster presentation, which is as important as the poster itself.  Don't be one of the many presenters who forgot to prepare...here are some tips for acing your poster presentation.

Preparing to Present

• Arrive Early 
• Dress smartly 
• Bring handouts (with your contact information) 
• Bring business cards 
• Bring a pen and note paper/conference program (for writing down great thoughts and experimental ideas)...or use your smart phone to do this
• Wear your name tag (make sure it matches your poster) 

Presenting the Poster

• Be prepared to give an overview of your work in 3-5 minutes 
• Practice a 1-sentence overview of why your work is interesting and relevant to begin 
• Practice your presentation in advance – use your colleagues! 
• Give people time to look at the poster; stand to one side but stay in the picture 
• Ask if they would like you to go through the poster with them 
• Make eye contact 
• Avoid jargon and acronyms 
• Speak clearly and slowly; don’t go into detail unless asked 
• Do not refer to notes while presenting 
• Be excited about your research and present it enthusiastically
• Thank people for stopping by when you have finished answering their questions 

Handling the Questions

• Anticipate questions and rehearse your answers (again, use your colleagues)
• Listen carefully and wait for the person to finish asking their question 
• Rephrase their question, answer it and then ask to see if you’ve answered their question 
• Remember – you know your work better than anyone else so there's no reason to be intimidated