NOW Registering: 17th annual SC INBRE Science Symposium – Sat, Feb 21, USC Columbia (registration closes THIS FRIDAY, Feb 6)

Poster Guidelines

Page updated Feb 4, 2026

Posters accepted for presentation should adhere to the following Guidelines:

For more info, contact:

Cyndy Buckhaults, SC INBRE Communications Manager

SIZE:
Due to size limitations of the poster boards to be used at the Symposium, posters can measure NO WIDER than 4 feet (48 inches) landscape. We strongly suggest that posters are no more than 3 feet (36 inches) high.
POSTER NUMBERS:
Poster numbers will be available on the boards and the number card must be prominently displayed. Odd number poster numbers will present in Session 1. Even posters numbers will present in Session 2.
POSTER HANGING:
SC INBRE will provide binder clips. Posters for Session 1 can be hung before Opening Remarks. They should be removed at the beginning of Lunch. Posters for Session 2 need to be hung before the conclusion of Lunch.

POSTER DESIGN ELEMENTS:
SC INBRE provides a Toolbox under the Resources tab on our website with downloadables and verbiage to use on your poster.
- Citing SC INBRE – your poster must contain an acknowledgement for our program
- SC INBRE logo – DO NOT right click or screen capture our logo. That will be too low resolution for your poster. The Toolbox has links to download our logo in different formats.
DESIGN TIPS:
Fourwaves offers a web page full of great tips on designing a poster. Take a look

PRESENTATION TIPS:
It has been SC INBRE’s experience from our annual Science Symposiums that the best presenters with the highest scores are not necessarily the oldest or most experienced presenters (we’ve had high school summer students outscore graduate students), but rather they are the most prepared presenters. A few quick tips:

1. Prepare your elevator speech. Be able to tell about your research in 3 to 5 sentences (the length of the average elevator ride) in a way your grandparents would understand. The person judging your poster does not have the same knowledge you do. Be simple. Be clear. Be concise. You can get to the technical stuff later.
2. Know your research. Practice, prep, and present with confidence. Be prepared to answer questions. Ask your mentor for pointers. Practice in front of your family and peers. You’ve got this!
3. Make eye contact. Look up. Talk to people, not their shoes or your poster (unless a person you are talking to has really cute/cool shoes – in that case, look down, compliment, look back up and then continue!).
4. Dress for success. What you wear matters. It will put you in the correct mindset to succeed. (PS. Make sure you are also dressed to be standing for the full session at your poster.)
5. Smile. That and good posture are the most important things you can wear. It demonstrates confidence and confidence scores points on the presentation section of the judging form.

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