Abstract, Poster, and Judging Information

Poster Information

Posters will be displayed on easels. We recommend using a tri-fold poster board or printed poster. We will have some poster boards available for you to attach your poster to if needed.

The following are some suggestions for making your poster:

Use headings to organize your poster, and make transitions from one section to another. Refer to the list of sections/headings below.
Choose your font styles and sizes carefully so that an observer can view your poster clearly while standing 5 feet away.
If you are short on space on the poster, decrease the font size for the reference list.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please email us at
cemast@IllinoisState.edu.

Poster Sections/Headings

The following are suggested sections/headings for your poster:

Title
- The title should be a concise description of your research.
- It should describe the subject and variable(s) studied.
Name and School Affiliation
Abstract (additional information for the abstract provided below)
Introduction
- Present a general overview of what your poster will include.
- Provide background information or research necessary to understand the topic and your experiment.
- Explain why you have selected the topic.
Hypothesis (if applicable to your research project)
- State your complete hypothesis word for word.
Methods
- Briefly describe the methods and materials used in your research.
- How did you collect your data? How often?
Results
- Present and describe the data.
- Highlight the "big picture" of the experiment.
- Use figures (e.g., maps, diagrams, or photographs) and tables. All figures and tables need to be numbered and have a caption. Each figure and table should be referenced in the poster text.
Conclusions
- Restate the hypothesis and whether or not it was supported.
- Summarize the previously stated results, and explain why these results may have occurred.
- Note: Based on your research design, it may make more sense to include the explanation of your results with your actual results (i.e., present the results followed by a clear explanation of your results) before the conclusion.
References
- Anything included in your poster that is not your own, including text, figures, and/or tables, must be referenced. You may use in-text citations or footnotes throughout your poster.
- Please use either MLA or APA style for the reference list.

Abstract Requirements

Your abstract (maximum of 250 words) may be incorporated within your poster or attached to your poster and should include the following information about your research project:

What was studied?
How was it studied?
What were the results?
An explanation of those results.

Your abstract should be clear and concise. Avoid abbreviations and jargon.

Additional Tips for Abstracts

Here are a few additional tips for writing and organizing an abstract. (Note: These are suggestions. Your teacher or mentor may have other guidelines for you to follow.)

Describe the purpose of the project. Use your hypothesis.

Example: The purpose of this research is to determine if _____has an effect on _____.
Describe the methods used. Do not use first person.

Example: Three experimental groups and one control group were set up. Each experimental group was exposed to different levels of light: 4 hours, 10 hours, and 24 hours. The control group had 12 hours of light. Leaf width and stem height were measured by _____ every other day for three weeks beginning on _____.
Describe the results. Be sure to cover all of your major results.

Example: The experimental group with 4 hours of light grew the most, with 7 mm of leaf growth and 10 mm of stem growth. In contrast, the experimental group with 24 hours of light had the least amount of growth. Leaf size decreased by 2 mm, and stem height grew only 1 mm.
List the conclusions. Explain whether or not your hypothesis was supported. Give specific explanations for the results.

Example: The hypothesis was supported because the plant with the most light grew the least. There may be several explanations for this, including _____.
Note: Based on your research design, it may make more sense to include the explanation of your results with your actual results (i.e., present the results followed by a clear explanation of your results) before the conclusion.

Additional Research Project Information

Your teacher and/or mentor are there to guide you through your research project, so they are your most important resource. Be sure to properly cite and reference any sources you have have used in your poster (text, figures, or tables). If your research project requires approval (i.e., if you are working with animals, human subjects, or potentially hazardous materials), you will need to attach the completed approval form to the back of your poster.

For additional information about research projects, see our three-page guide that includes a scientific process flow chart and information about research ethics, sources, and potentially publishing your research.

Judging Information

Students are not required to have their poster judged. When students presenting posters submit their online registration form, they must indicate if they wish to present their poster for judging or not.

The poster judging process is as follows:

All posters will be on display during the Symposium. Students will be expected to stand at their poster during their designated poster session time to share their poster with Symposium visitors, including ISU professors and students, high school students and teachers, parents, and potential judges.
During judging, students will begin their presentation with a 2–3 minute oral summary of their research. This will be followed by 2–3 minutes of questions and comments from the judge(s).
Judges will complete a 1-page judging form, which includes written comments and their rating for each category.
At the conclusion of the Symposium, teachers may stop at the check-in desk to pick up their students' judging forms. Alternately, the teacher may request that the forms be mailed to their school.