Poster Presentations: Presenting a Poster

Approach a poster presentation as you would any other opportunity for public speaking

• Dress professionally
• Don't chew gum 
• Don't jingle keys or coins in your pockets
• Make and maintain eye contact with anyone you're speaking to about your poster
• Be prepared with handouts and business cards

Tips for getting the most out of a poster session

• Prepare an "elevator pitch" for your poster prior to the session so that you're able to summarize your topic smoothly
• Stand beside, not in front of, your poster so that interested attendees can easily view the content
• Don't turn your back to someone you're speaking to in order to make a specific point about a section of your poster
• Don't neglect session attendees who may be interested in your poster to speak with colleagues or friends
• If your poster will be on display for several days, bring holders or page protectors for handouts and business cards
• Bring your own push pins or velcro as backup supplies

Plan how you will transport your poster while you're in the design phase. Options for transporting posters include:

• Poster Tubes (sometimes difficult to manage in airports).
• Ordering a fabric poster  - fabric posters can be folded and transported in luggage. 
• Opting not to transport a poster and using onsite printing services instead.
• Presenting a poster made up of printed panels that can be transported in luggage.