Designing and Presenting Effective Posters

For a scientific poster to be effective, it must be both well designed and presented. Key elements include accessible and engaging graphic content and text, which will aid in storytelling for diverse audiences. Preparing a poster “pitch” will allow you to present your research with clarity and confidence. And through practice, you can hone the conversational skills needed to navigate unpredictable questions and moments, as well as build rapport with your audience.

This two-part workshop, based on a curated curriculum of online resources, gives participants the opportunity to present their posters in a small-group setting. Accepted participants will receive feedback from a scientific communication coach and their peers.

Participants should have a complete poster ready to share and receive feedback on by mid-March.

Meet the coach

For nearly three decades Cheryl Vaughan, PhD, EdM, has worked at the intersection of science and education at Harvard University. Since 2016, she has served as a speaker and leader in the poster presentation session of the long-running Harvard Catalyst course Effectively Communicating Research. These poster presentation coaching sessions were developed as a natural next stage of that educational effort.

Previously, Vaughan managed operations and content development for large introductory courses at Harvard College and was director of the Master’s in Biotechnology Program at the Harvard Extension School. In 2014, she was recruited to design, develop, and deliver the Skills Development Center for the newly funded Boston Biomedical Innovation Center.

Time commitment

Part 1: Poster Design

• Submit an initial draft of your poster by April 2. (Please note that the poster will be printed by our team to review and discuss during the first session.)
• Complete two to three hours of pre-work.
• Participate in the first of two in-person sessions (two hours) on poster design.

Part 2: Poster Presentation

• Submit an updated version of your poster by May 6. (Please note that the poster will be printed by our team to review and discuss during the second session.)
• Complete two to three hours of pre-work.
• Participate in the second of two in-person sessions (two hours) on presenting posters.

Session Dates and Times
We will ask for your availability across these options for this two-part workshop. If accepted, you will attend one of these sets of two dates.

• Option 1: April 15 and May 20 | 10:00am – 12:00pm EST
• Option 2: April 16 and May 21 | 12:00 – 2:00pm EST
• Option 3: April 17 and May 22 | 10:00am – 12:00pm EST

Eligibility

This workshop is open only to Harvard-affiliated schools and institutions. Availability is limited. Participants will be selected at random, based on availability.

We believe that the research community is strengthened by understanding how a number of factors including gender identity, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, religion, national origin, language, disability, and age shape the environment in which we live and work, affect each of our personal identities, and impacts all areas of human health.

Fee

This workshop is free for participants from Harvard-affiliated schools and institutions.