SBB 3802

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Week 4
Dr. Edlic Sathiamurthy
No. 6, Annex. FST
Tel: 668 3192
edlic@umt.edu.my
Week Lecture Activities Hour
1 Introduction 15 minutes 2
-Course
Course aim and objectives essay on course
-Course focus objectives
-Instruction and assessment method etc. Form groups and
*55 minutes speech (5msp) select a contact
person
2 Fundamentals of Communication 5msp 3
-Speech
Speech making tips
-Ethics
3 Practical Aspect of Communication – 1 5msp 3
-Data
Data mining
4 Practical Aspect of Communication – 2 Designing a poster 3
- How to design a poster exercise
P t topic
Poster t i
5 Scientific research methodology – 1 5msp 3
-Qualitative and quantitative
-Inductive
I d i andd deductive
d d i approach h
-Research process
-Research design
 Features of a poster….
poster
• Posters come in many shapes and sizes
• Convey ideas, messages and information
in a concise and appealing manner
• Can contain text and graphics
• Can ‘speak’
p for itself without much verbal
explanation
• How much time will y you spend
p reading ga
poster?
• What aspect
p of a pposter appeals
pp to yyou?
 Poster concept….
concept
• Purpose driven design – commercial,
commercial
awareness campaign etc.
• Scientific poster – conveys scientific
knowledge in a clear, systematic and
concise manner …. for an audience that
would probably spend a relatively short
time to read through it under a likely
distractive environment
 Poster content….
content
• Should be approachable
pp at three levels:
 Title and organization that inform the casual passerby
of the general nature of your work
 Presentation method that would let a somewhat
interested observer know the trends of your data and
the nature of your conclusions
 Enoughg information to convince an individual workingg
in the same area to stop and find out more about your
project
• Audience
ud e ce ce centered
te ed app
approach
oac
• Just like a journal, it has a title, names and
affiliations of authors, abstract, introduction….
acknowledgement and references but in a
concise manner
 Poster size and layout
layout….
• Size must not be too small or too large
g
• Reasonable maximum dimensions: 3’ h X 4’ w
p y clearly
• Title should be displayed y across the topp
in large letters
• Beneath the title, and in smaller print, should be
th name off the
the th presenter
t andd the
th institution
i tit ti or
laboratory in which the work was done
(a at o )
(affiliation)
• Written statements should be in large print,
which is easily readable from a distance of 3 to 4
feet
• Abstract may be included depending on
space limitations
li it ti
• Introduction:
Moderately brief and straightforward
Better to be confined to one paragraph
Be located at the upper left of the poster
• Materials and Methods:
Clear label
Follow immediately after the Introduction
Diagrammatic presentation
Easily followed flow diagrams should be used
• Results and Discussion:
 Most important part of the poster
 Generally should occupy the center of the exhibit
 Maximum number of simple p and easy
y to read
illustrations and not wordy
 Color-coding graphs and figures
 Discussion kept to a minimum most important points
• Conclusions:
 Stated in a clear and especially concise fashion
 Generally located to the right of the results
 Listing of conclusions can facilitate comprehension
• Acknowledgement
• References
 Centre aligned
g figures….
g

Following samples are taken from SciFor Inc.

Bottom aligned figures
figures….
Figures
g between text….
Right
g aligned
g figures….
g
Vertical poster
with figures
between text
 Poster typology….
typology
• Use: Arial … not any fancy font type
• Font size: large enough for the audience
to read from 3 or 4 feet away
• Use different font size to differentiate title,
h di
headings etc.
t
• Do not use multiple font colours
• Suggested font size for 32” X 40” ; 40” X
32” ; 44” X 36” poster
p
 Poster with Vertical Format: Title of Poster in Arial, Bold, 60-80 Points
Sponsor Logo Names of Authors in Arial, 44 Points, Bold Institution Logo
Department in 40 points bold
Institution in 40 points bold
Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold) Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold)
The first section of the poster should define the topic and show its importance. One section of a poster should present the results. Often the results can be
A good test is whether the poster can orient the audience to these two aspects in depicted with graphs, such as for an experiment, or with drawings such as with a
20 seconds. Shown in Figure 1 is a possible layout for a poster. This section was design. Shown in Figure 4 is another possible layout for a poster. This section was
set in Arial, 36 points. Boldfacing the section type is an option. set in Arial, 36 points. Boldfacing the section type is an option.

Figure 1. Possible layout for poster (caption: Figure 4

4. Fourth possible layout for poster
32 points, bold). (caption: 32 points, bold).

Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold) Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold)

The second section of the poster might serve a number of purposes:
background information, methods, or system design. An important point with
posters is to rely on visuals rather than longs blocks of text to communicate.
Figures 2 and 3 show two more possible layouts for posters. This section was set
in Arial, 36 points. Boldfacing the section type is an option.
Shown in Figure 5 is another possible layout for a poster. This section was set
in Arial, 36 points. Note that the amount of type in the sections affects the choice,
size, and boldfacing of the typeface. No matter the type selected for the sections,
you should still use a bold sans serif for the headings.

i i

Figure 5. Fifth possible layout for poster

Figure 2. Second possible layout for poster (caption: 32 points, bold).
(caption: 32 points, bold). Heading (Arial 44 Points)
The final section of the poster generally provides conclusions and
recommendations. This section was set in Arial, 36 points. Boldfacing the section
type is an option.
Acknowledgments (Arial,
(Arial 36 points,
points bold)
In this template, acknowledgments are set in Arial, 32 points. Try to keep the
acknowledgments to one or two lines.
References (Arial, 36 points, bold)
First reference in Arial, 32 points, with a reverse indent: alphabetical or numerical order.
Figure 3. Third possible layout for poster Second reference in Arial, 32 points, with a reverse indent: alphabetical or numerical order.
(caption: 32 points, bold).
 Poster with Horizontal Layout: Title of Poster in Arial, Bold, 60-80 Points
Names of Authors in Arial, 44 Points, Bold
Sponsor Logo Department in 40 points bold Institution Logo
Institution in 40 points bold

Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold) Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold)

The first section of the poster should define the topic and show its One section of a poster should present the results. Often the results can
importance. A good test is whether the poster can orient the audience to be depicted with graphs, such as for an experiment, or with drawings such
these two aspects in 20 seconds. Shown in Figure 1 are two possible layouts as with a design.
for a poster. This section was set in Arial, boldface, 36 points. Shown in Figure 3 are two more possible layouts for a poster.
poster This
For posters that present one main result, a good design is to cast the title as a
section was set in Arial, boldface, 36 points. Note that the amount of type in
Phrase Headline That Is Set in Initial Capital Letters sentence that states the result
the sections affects the choice, size, and boldfacing of the typeface. No
matter the type that you select for the sections, you should still use a bold
sans serif for the headings.
For posters that present one main result, a good design is to cast the title as a
Phrase Headline That Is Set in Initial Capital Letters sentence that states the result

i i

Figure 1. Two possible layouts for poster (caption: 32 points, bold).

Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold) Figure 3. Two more possible layouts for poster (caption: 32 points, bold).

The second section of the poster might serve a number of purposes:

background information, methods, or system design. An important point
with posters is to rely on visuals rather than longs blocks of text to
communicate. Figure 2 shows two more possible layouts for posters. This Heading (Arial 44 Points)
section was set in Arial
Arial, boldface
boldface, 36 points.
points The final section of the poster generally provides conclusions and
recommendations. This section was set in Arial, boldface, 36 points. As with
For posters that present one main result, a good design is to cast the title as a
Phrase Headline That Is Set in Initial Capital Letters sentence that states the result
the first section, this section is read by most passers-by.

Acknowledgments (Arial, 36 points, bold)

In this template, acknowledgments are set in Arial, 32 points. Try to keep the
acknowledgments to one or two lines.
lines

References (Arial, 36 points, bold)

First reference in Arial, 32 points, with reverse indent: alphabetical or numerical order.
Second reference in Arial, 32 points, with reverse indent: alphabetical or numerical
Figure 2. Two other possible layouts for poster (caption: 32 points, bold). order.
 Title of Poster in Arial, Bold, 80-96 Points: Size Dependent on Length
Lab Logo
Heading 1, Arial, 54 points, bold
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40
points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text
in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points,
Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial,
40 points, Bold.
Key Image 1
Figure 1. Caption in Arial, 36 points, bold.
Heading 2, Arial, 54 points, bold
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40
points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text
in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points,
Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial,
40 points,
points Bold.
Bold
Key
y Image
g 2
Figure 2. Caption in Arial, 36 points, bold.
Names of Authors in Arial, 60 Points, Bold
Key
y Image
g 3
Figure 3. Caption in Arial, 36 points, bold.
Heading 3, Arial, 54 points, bold
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40
points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text
in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points,
Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial,
40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold.
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40
points, Bold.
Key Image 4
Figure 4. Caption in Arial, 36 points, bold.
Institution Logo
Heading 4, Arial, 54 points, bold
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial,
40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold.
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40
points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text
in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40
points Bold.
points, Bold
K IImage 5
Key
Figure 5. Caption in Arial, 36 points, bold.
Heading 5, Arial, 54 points, bold
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial,
40 p
points,, Bold. Text in Arial,, 40 p
points,, Bold.
Text in Arial, 40 points, Bold. Text in Arial, 40
points, Bold.
Acknowledgments (Arial, 40 points, bold)
Acknowledgments in Arial, 32 points, bold--try to keep to
one or two lines,
References (Arial, 40 points, bold)
First reference in Arial, 32 points, bold, with a reverse
indent: alphabetical or numerical order.
Second reference in Arial, 32 points, bold, with a reverse
indent: alphabetical or numerical order.
 Poster colour….
colour
• Do not use too many colours
• Colour concept:
Primary, secondary and tertiary colours
Primary
Contrast
Lightness and darkness
Monochromatic colours
Colour attracts attention
Colour can affect reading ability and the
emotion of an audience
CAN YOU READ THIS:
colour affects reading
g speed
p
CAN YOU READ THIS:
colour affects mood
CAN YOU READ THIS:
colour attracts attention
 Further reading….

http://writing.eng.vt.edu/poster.html
 Poster assignment
• Submission/presentation
p dateline: Tuesday y 10.00 a.m.
of Week 8
• Late submission will result in deduction of marks
• Assessment system: Survival
• Topic: Any scientific topic within the scope of
environmental science and engineering
• Poster size: A0 (find out how large is this size)
• Make or break every tribe is on its own …. I shall NOT
entertain any question regarding this assignment apart
from this date and time: Thursday 6 August 2009, 4.00
to 7.00 p.m.
• SO….
SO PREPARE FOR FOR….
 You
Again
!