WCBSURC offers two presentation formats for undergraduate researchers: poster presentations and oral presentations. Students may indicate their preferred format when submitting an abstract; final presentation assignments will be determined by the conference review committee.
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations provide an opportunity for students to share their research visually and engage directly with fellow students, faculty mentors, and other conference attendees.
Poster Size
Posters should fit on a display board measuring:
- 36 inches high × 48 inches wide
Both portrait and landscape orientations are acceptable.
Poster Session
Presenters should have their posters in place at least 15 minutes before the beginning of their assigned session.
Posters should remain on display until no more than 15 minutes after the session has ended.
Presenters are expected to be present at their posters throughout the entire session to discuss their research and answer questions.
Poster Content
A research poster will typically include:
- Title
- Authors and institution
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- References
Presenters should organize their posters so that the research can be easily understood and discussed within the poster session.
Oral Presentations
Oral presentations provide students with an opportunity to present their research to an audience of fellow researchers, faculty mentors, and conference attendees.
Presentation Length
Each seminar presentation will be 12 minutes, followed by 2 minutes for questions and answers.
Approximately 1 minute of transition time will be provided between speakers.
Presentation Equipment
Presentations should be provided on a flash drive. Individual use of personal laptops will not be permitted for presentations.
Presenters should bring a copy of their presentation on a flash drive and be prepared to provide it to the conference organizers as directed.
Slide Guidelines
All printed words, figures, and data on PowerPoint slides should be easily legible from a distance of approximately 30 feet.
Keep slides clear and readable, and avoid including more information than can be comfortably viewed and understood during the presentation.
Laser Pointers
Speakers should bring their own laser pointer if they plan to use one to guide the audience's attention during their presentation.
Recommended Presentation Structure
Although research projects will vary, oral presentations may generally include:
- Introduction
- Research Question or Objectives
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions or Future Directions
The presentation should clearly communicate the purpose of the research, the approach taken, the major findings, and their significance.
Judging and Awards
Outstanding poster and oral presentations will be recognized during the conference awards ceremony.
Additional information regarding judging criteria and award categories will be provided prior to the conference.
Questions?
For questions about presentation guidelines, please contact Michael McConnell at mmcconne@pointloma.edu.