Poster Presentations
Overview
Poster sessions allow a researcher to discuss his or her research with interested persons for an extended period and in more depth than is possible in a symposium paper presentation. It also allows attendees to select the papers they are most interested in and concentrate on them. Poster presentations offer an exciting medium for presenting the latest developments in a specific area. A successful poster requires care and planning. An extra hour spent preparing your materials and organizing your display will contribute heavily towards making a success of the session.
As a general rule, it is recommended that the title be in 3 cm print or larger. The authors and the affiliations can be done in 1.5 cm print. It is not a good idea to include any display materials done in regular size type e.g. 12 point. Instead, you may wish to include an abstract typed in a large, clear type and several large, clearly labelled graphs and other visual aids. Figures that take up a regular page are probably adequately large, but even larger materials would be desirable. If tables are included, they should probably be larger than a standard sheet of paper. Pictures, diagrams, and other materials of adequate size are often helpful. A useful rule here is that your material should be easily read from a distance of 1 to 2 metres.
The poster should be as neat and visually pleasing as possible. Hand lettering of materials is generally not satisfactory. The creative use of colours in lettering background and figures can add considerably to poster appeal. You must be able to quickly assemble and take down your poster materials.
All materials you wish to display should be related to your presentation and the materials described in the abstract you submitted to the EMDR Europe Conference Scientific Committee.
Poster Content
Giving a poster is not just a matter of preparing visually attractive materials. The format also requires a different approach to oral presentations of research. The basic rule is to provide a short, clear, non-technical description of what you did, why you did it, and what you found. Generally, you should not go into detail regarding subjects, apparatus, or details of procedure. Attendees will assume that these details were completely handled- those who need to know can request a full copy of the paper. For example, you should keep references and reviews of the literature to a minimum. The format requires you to be bold in your style and to condense complicated descriptions into a few short sentences. Above all, a poster is not just a regular paper in large type stuck on a board. It is a discussion-oriented format. The poster should communicate the issue and conclusion. The discussion in person with conference delegates should fill in the details.
The Presentation
Each poster will be allocated a poster board and must be in DIN A0 (841 x 1189 mm) format. It is on this board that the poster materials should be displayed.
No electrical outlets or audio-visual equipment will be provided in the poster area, you must be prepared to deliver your presentation based solely on the materials that can be directly affixed to the poster board.
Each poster board will carry a number in the upper corner corresponding to the poster's listed number found in the conference programme (ask a Conference Assistant for help at your poster session if unsure). Poster presenters will be able to set up their posters on Saturday morning. Poster presentations have been scheduled for Sunday morning between 10.00 and 11.00. At the end of the Sunday session, display materials and all other materials must be taken down and removed from the area. If they are still on your board after this time, we do reserve the right to remove and dispose of the poster. EMDR Europe can take no responsibility for any loss or damage to your poster. Putting up your poster is taken as acceptance of these conditions.
It is essential that your display materials be both clear and visible. Most people will be viewing your poster from a distance. It should be easy to identify the poster and the presenter(s) by including a complete heading on the poster. This is desirable for two reasons.
First, many posters will be going on simultaneously in the display area. Persons interested in a particular paper may have difficulty locating the poster, perhaps missing it completely, if it is not clearly identified.
Second, many people will be wandering through the display area out of general interest and curiosity. Your paper may well be of considerable interest to them (and their comments of interest to you). Clear title/presenter headings will greatly increase the likelihood that such contacts will be made. Your materials should be on display and you should be available to discuss the materials and answer questions. Many presenters may wish to provide handouts about their project. These may include an abstract of the paper or perhaps a copy of the complete paper itself. Other authors prefer to send reprints of their paper by email after the conference is over and provide "reprint-request" sheets.
Posters will be exhibited for the duration of the Conference. Your presence at your poster board is requested on Sunday between 10.00 - 11.00.