Guidelines For Display Presentations

Poster locations:
Poster presentations will be displayed in Cheever and Haynes Halls at Montana State University (a map will be provided at the Symposium). We will attempt to group posters by subject matter. Each display space will be numbered and referenced by author(s) and title in the upper left corner. We have tentatively scheduled poster set-up times during the afternoon and evening of Sunday, July 4, and during the early morning of Monday, July 5.

Poster viewing times:
All posters will be available throughout the duration of the Symposium. The period between 11: 30 am and 1: 30 pm will be devoted exclusively to display presentations on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during the Symposium. Author(s) will be asked to be present at their presentation during one of these two-hour periods (schedule to be determined). If there are additional periods when you wish to be present, please indicate these dates and times on your poster.

Display space:
Each poster presentation will be provided with a display area of 4 feet x 4 feet (122 cm x 122 cm). Please leave an empty space in the upper left corner of this area to accommodate a 4 inch x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) "identification card". We also request that you provide a small photograph of author(s) attending the Symposium so that interested viewers may more easily locate you during the meeting.

Affixing posters:
Poster materials will be affixed to the presentation boards using push pins or tacks; Velcro backing will not be available.

Poster heading:
A full title of the poster presentation and the name(s) of author(s) should be given at the top of the display, as they are presented in the Symposium program. These should be visible from a distance of at least 2 m, so plan on using lettering that is at least 36 points.

Poster legibility:
Generally, viewers will stand 1-2 m from your poster. Lettering for text, captions, and figure legends should be at least 18 points. Graphs and tabular data should be at least 24 points. Selective highlighting of major points in contrasting colors or bold print may improve your presentation.

General guidelines:
An effective poster is self-explanatory, using a series of brief statements and supporting illustrations to tell a story. Viewers will become frustrated and ignore your presentation if it is too complex or it is difficult to follow. Use arrows, numbers, letters, etc. to clearly indicate the flow of your narrative. Avoid complex graphs and lengthy tables with excessive numbers and text.

A display presentation is not a manuscript. Although a poster needs supporting text, it should be limited to what is essential. A handout may be provided if you wish to furnish more detailed descriptions of techniques or explanations of your work.

Poster shipment:
Hauling posters about on airplanes, etc. can be an inconvenience. If you wish to avoid checking or hand-carrying these materials, Rich Hansen is willing to receive and hold your poster materials at his Bozeman location until you arrive. Please plan on shipping parcels so that they arrive in Bozeman no later than Friday, July 2. Expect a seven-day transit time for "normal" UPS and US Postal Service shipments from US locations to Bozeman; plan on an additional two or three days from Canadian locations . Contact local postal or other shipping entities for information about shipments originating outside the US and Canada. Contact Rich Hansen (e-mail address below) for details about pre-Symposium poster shipping.

For further information:
Please contact Rich Hansen at richard.w.hansen@usda.gov for additional information about display presentations.

[Note: portions of these "display presentation guidelines" have been borrowed from those prepared by the Entomological Society of America.]