Giving Presentations

Know who will be attending your poster session. Tailor your language, depth of content, and visuals to suit the expertise level of your audience. You may have specialists in your field or a general audience, so adjust accordingly.

• Engaging Title: The title of your poster should grab attention and clearly convey the subject of your research.
• Organized Structure:
  • Use section headings (e.g., introduction, methods, results, conclusion) to guide the viewer through the content in a logical flow.
  • Arrange content in columns or sections for easy reading. Most people will spend only a minute or two on your poster, so the layout should allow for a quick grasp of the content.
  • Use bullet points and short, simple sentences. You should distill complex ideas into easily digestible pieces of information.

• Color Scheme: Use contrasting colors for readability. For example, dark text on a light background or vice versa.
• White Space: Leave enough space between sections to avoid a cluttered look. White space helps separate content and makes the poster easier to navigate visually.
• Font Size and Style: Title and section headings should be large and bold. Ensure body text is legible from a few feet away (typically 24–32 pt font). Use simple, professional fonts like Arial or Helvetica.
• Tables and figures: Use tables and figures to illustrate key points. They should be self-explanatory, with clear legends and axes labeled appropriately.
• High-Resolution Images: Use high-quality, sharp images to avoid pixilation when printed.
  • Visit our Copyright-Friendly Sources guide for help finding images.
  • You may also wish to include your university affiliation in the corner of your poster:
    • MacEwan logo (light background)
    • MacEwan logo (dark background)

• Software: PowerPoint and Canva are often used for creating posters.
• Size: Before designing your poster, verify size requirements and set the file size in the program you are using (in PowerPoint go to the Design tab>> Slide Size>> Custom Slide Size). Conference posters are typically 36 inches high x 48 inches wide, but this can vary.
• Printing: Confirm the required file format with the print shop you're using. Most require that files be saved to PDF. Visit Print Services to learn more about having your poster printed on campus.

Before a poster presentation, practice a one-to-two-minute summary explaining what your poster is about and why it is important. This will help you engage with your audience during a poster session.

• Audience Expertise: Tailor your content to the knowledge level of the audience. A presentation for experts will differ in detail and language from one aimed at a more general audience.
• Relevance: Focus on the aspects of your topic that will resonate most with the audience. If you're at a specialized conference, emphasize technical details; for broader audiences, focus on big-picture implications.

• Introduction: Start with a strong introduction that outlines the problem or objective of your research, and why it matters. Consider ways to capture the audience’s attention right away with a thought-provoking statement, interesting fact, or question.
• Body: Organize the body of your presentation logically. Present your key points in a sequence that is easy to follow. Consider using the following format:
  • Problem or question
  • Method or approach
  • Results or findings
• Conclusion: Summarize your key takeaways and emphasize the significance of your work. If appropriate, suggest areas for future research or a call to action that can engage the audience with your area of research after the presentation.

• Minimal Text: Avoid text-heavy slides. Aim for bullet points or short phrases instead of full sentences. The slides should support your speech, not duplicate it.
• Visuals: Use images, figures, and infographics to make complex information easier to understand. Keep charts simple, with clear labels and minimal data points. Visuals should reinforce your message. Visit our Copyright-Friendly Sources guide for help finding images.
• Consistent Design: Use a consistent slide format (font, color scheme, layout) to maintain a professional appearance and avoid distracting the audience.
• Readable Font Size: Ensure text is legible from the back of the room. Titles should be larger (e.g., 48 pt), while body text should be at least 24 pt.

• Respect Time Limits: Conferences usually allocate a specific time (e.g., 15–20 minutes) for presentations. Practice to ensure you can fit your content into this window without rushing.
• Practice: Rehearse your presentation several times to ensure a smooth delivery without having to read directly from your slides or notes. This also helps you refine your timing and anticipate potential technical issues.
• Engage the Audience: Ask rhetorical questions, tell a brief story, or use analogies to keep the audience interested. If appropriate, encourage audience participation through brief questions or a poll.
• Clarity Over Quantity: It’s better to explain a few key points well than to overwhelm the audience with too much information. Be selective with the content and focus on what is most important.
• Highlight Implications: Make sure to highlight why your research or ideas are important. How does your work contribute to the field or solve a problem? What are the broader implications?

• Technology Check: Arrive early to ensure your presentation works on the conference equipment. Test your slides, audio, video, and any other multimedia elements.
• Backup Plan: Bring multiple backups of your presentation slides (USB drive, email, cloud storage) in case something goes wrong. Be ready to adapt if you face technical issues.

• Anticipate Questions: Be prepared to answer questions from the audience. Think about potential questions beforehand, including any critiques or challenges to your research.
• Clear Responses: When answering questions, be concise and clear. If you don’t know the answer, be honest, and offer to follow up later.

Shareable files can be posted online on platforms including Google Drive, MacEwan’s research repository (RO@M) and the MacEwan Data Repository.

Add a QR code and/or a short link using a URL shortener (e.g., TinyURL, bit.ly) to your poster or presentation slides to easily connect your audience to resources.

You may also want to consider having a handout available for attendees to take with them.