INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Abstracts scheduled for presentation in poster sessions will be grouped by topic, numbered and listed in the program, and published in the abstract book.

GENERAL COMMENTS
In planning a poster presentation it is useful to keep in mind the advantages of a poster over an oral presentation. Posters are available for viewing for the entire meeting. Authors and interested viewers have more time for discussion. More posters can be presented in the same time and space than oral presentations reducing the number of simultaneous sessions. There is no first or last presentation on the program. For these and other reasons, many societies are switching to poster presentations. Planning and experience will make your poster presentation clear, effective and rewarding.

GUIDELINES
Posters should be readable by viewers five feet away. The message should be clear and understandable without oral explanation. The following guidelines have been prepared to help improve the effectiveness of poster communication.

1. Initial Sketch Plan your poster early. Focus your attention on a few key points. Try various styles of data presentation to achieve clarity and simplicity. Does the use of color help? What needs to be expressed in words? Suggest headlines and text topics.

2. Rough Layout Enlarge your best initial sketch, keeping the dimensions in proportion to the final poster (see diagram). Ideally, the rough layout should be full size. A blackboard is a convenient place to work. Print the title and headlines. Indicate text by horizontal lines. Draw rough graphs and tables. This will give you a good idea of proportions and balance. If you are working with an artist, show him or her the poster layout. Ask associates for comments. This is still an experimental stage.

3. Final Layout The artwork is complete. The text and tables are typed but not necessarily enlarged to full size. Now ask, is the message clear? Do the important points stand out? Is there a balance between words and illustrations? Is there spatial balance? Is the pathway through the poster clear?

4. Balance The figures and tables should cover slightly more than 50% of the poster area. If you have only a few illustrations, make them large. Do not omit the text, but keep it brief. The poster should be understandable without oral explanation.

5. Typography Avoid abbreviations, acronyms and jargon. Use a consistent type style throughout. Use large type. An 8 ½ x 11" sheet of paper photostatically enlarged 50% makes the text readable from five feet.

6. Eye Movement The movement (pathway) of the eye over the poster should be natural; down the columns or along the rows. Size attracts attention. Arrows, pointing hands, numbers and letters can help clarify the sequence.

7. Simplicity The temptation to overload the poster should be resisted. More material may mean less communication.

The poster board surface area is 3'8" high and 5'6" wide. Prepare a 6" high headline strip that runs the full width of the poster. Include the title, authors and affiliations on the strip in letters not less than 1" high.