Appendix 3: Semester 1 Poster Session
Poster displays are an important means of presenting research findings at scientific meetings. They provide an opportunity for direct interaction and discussion with other conference attendees allowing exchange of ideas. In your tutorials you will prepare a poster for presentation at a Faculty Poster Event, which will be held on Tuesday 11th December at 1:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. (Week 12). You should use the card provided (see below) as a base and be as creative as possible. We are not looking for professionally-produced PowerPoint posters!
Aims
The purpose of this assignment is to develop team skills and presentation skills by designing a poster to illustrate and describe a current scientific topic.
Objectives
In completing this exercise you will acquire expertise in:
presenting scientific information in a concise, organised and attractive way collaborating with others and working in a group
using a variety of information sources to construct the poster e.g. journals, internet, etc.
What makes a good poster?
It should:
have visual impact
retain the reader’s attention
be interesting, topical and stimulating: e.g. a current, high profile scientific issue be accurate; do not use dubious sources of information, be sure information is correct
be easy to read with a clear, large font
avoid crowded tables and over-long figure legends
include your names and degree programme on the poster.
Examples of posters from previous first years are displayed in 1MUL and 2MUL.
Practical arrangements
Collect two contrasting pieces of card to make your poster from Stopford Central Stores (Ground Floor). Look out for emails during the second half of semester 1, with details of what you need to do ahead of the poster event and on the day. Ensure your poster is ready and on display in the designated area by 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday December 12th. All members of the tutorial group must be present and able to answer questions about the poster during the Poster Event.
Assessment
Your Academic Advisor will mark posters based on the following criteria: quality of science, visual impact, organisation of information, readability and contribution of the whole group. All members of the group should put an approximately equal effort into the poster production and will normally be given the same mark. However, if anyone puts in considerably more or less effort than average, their mark may be adjusted accordingly. All students in the group are expected to be able to discuss the poster and this is one of the assessment criteria.
Therefore, attendance at the Poster Event is a compulsory part of the Tutorial Unit and failure to attend will result in a 20% reduction in the mark awarded.
Prizes
In addition to the individual poster marks, prizes will be awarded for the best posters in each session as voted by (i) academic judges from the School of Biological Sciences and
- the students.
Any comments or queries about the Poster Event that cannot be answered by your Academic Advisor should be addressed to: sarah.finn-sell@manchester.ac.uk.