Preparing Posters
Effective communication of your research is vital to the scientific community and to your career. Use this page to engage with audiences beyond your classmates and professors.
Preparing Posters
You may attend conferences and present posters to develop opportunities for graduate school or employment. Posters summarize information concisely and attractively. These sites have useful information on how to create an effective poster.
- Poster Creation and PresentationAn in-depth guide to designing, presenting and archiving a research poster (Penn State Libraries)
- How to Create a Research Poster: Poster Basics(New York University Libraries)
Academic & Scientific Poster Presentation by This book offers the first comprehensive guide to poster presentation at academic, scientific and professional conferences.
Communicate Science Papers, Presentations, and Posters Effectively by A guidebook on science writing and communication that professors, students, and professionals in the STEM fields can use in a practical way.
Designing Science Presentations by This clear, readable volume provides visually intensive guidance at every step--from the construction of original figures to the presentation and delivery of those figures in papers, slideshows, posters, and websites.
The Craft of Scientific Presentations by This book explains what causes so many scientific presentations to flounder.
Explaining Research by ISBN: 9780197571316Publication Date: 2021Explaining Research is the ultimate guide for scientists, engineers, and other professionals seeking to share their life's work effectively with important lay and scientific audiences. It offers a multitude of practical communication tools and techniques for writing, giving talks, creatingvisuals, using social media, and publicizing research advances.
Preparing oral presentations and lightning talks
Delivering Oral Presentations
Preparing effective oral presentations is similar to writing scientific papers: it takes time to do it well, but it is time well spent if you are able to spark interest in your work and develop engagement and understanding from your audience.
- "Advice on giving a good PowerPoint Presentation"article written by Joseph Gallian (Math Horizons 13, 2006, pp.25-27).
- Video vignettes from Technically Speaking project (National Science Foundation)features advice on speaking concisely.
- Undergraduate Speaking Center (Penn State)Expert help with presentations.
- Digital tools for presentations: digital storytelling (Penn State Libraries)guide to developing a video presentations.
- Designing Science Presentations by This clear, readable volume provides visually intensive guidance at every step--from the construction of original figures to the presentation and delivery of those figures in papers, slideshows, posters, and websites.
- The Craft of Scientific Presentations by This book explains what causes so many scientific presentations to flounder.
Effective Science Communication Second by ISBN: 9780750325189Publication Date: 2020Being a scientist in the 21st century can be extremely demanding. In addition to conducting exceptional research we are expected to communicate it effectively to a variety of audiences, from scientists and students to policymakers and press officers. This book provides a roadmap for how to disseminate your research findings in an engaging manner via a range of channels, such as scientific publications, press releases, social media and outreach. .
Preparing a Lightning or Flash Talk 
- Giving a good lightning talkTips from the Software Sustainability Institute
- How to Give a Flash Talk3-minute video with advice.
- Giving Lightning TalksClassic overview (by Mark Fowler)
- IgniteSamples of Ignite presentations.
- PechaKuchaSamples of PechaKucha presentations.
Preparing a digital story
Digital Stories Science resource gives you a step-by-step approach to create your own digital stories about your research, internship topic, or any science you want to share in an engaging format with others. Check out EMS student stories and PSU resources. Learn the power of narratives in science and practice by submitting an entry to the Celebration of Undergraduate Engagement (CUE).
- Storytelling ResourcesFrom Penn State MediaCommons
- Do It Yourself Video RecordingDutton e-Education Institute tips for video creation.
- Free media libraryLinks to resources (PSU MediaCommons)
Getting published
Getting Published
Looking for a journal that welcomes intellectual and reflective works by undergraduate students?
Check out the Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Community-Based Research, or
Share your work on a worldwide scale at Penn State's ScholarSphere (a repository of presentations, posters, research papers, and more).
- Best Practices for Web WritingUniversity of Maryland Writing Center guide
- ScholarSphereSave your work for posterity by uploading into Penn State's institutional repository.
And, if you just want to find out more about the scholarly publishing process, read:
- Sci-Tech Scholarly PublishingStanford Libraries site includes resources on peer review, article metrics and more.
- Mastering the Art of Scientific PublishingAmerican Chemical Society series about the steps involved in scientific publishing from submission to review to publication.
- JournalGuideHelp identify the best journal for your research.