Academic posters are a form of presenting information and may look different to a poster you completed as a young person. The intention of an academic poster is to present information in a form that is easier to understand and has the right balance of being engaging and informative about your chosen topic. 

As a student you are likely to be asked to present your academic poster as part of an event and defend it when asked questions by lecturers and peers. 

Your key point...

When planning your poster it is important to prioritise your information. What must the audience know and what would it be good for them to know? 

The video below may help you to understand what is urgent and not urgent which may help you prioritise the information you want to present on your poster. 

Remember that if you are creating your academic poster as part of a wider presentation you may want to reserve some facts and figures for your presentation so that you are not repeating points on your poster. 

The target audience for your poster will influence the content you put in it and the style in which it is presented. For example, when writing for an expert audience you might include technical terms understood in the field. Whereas if writing for members of the public you may focus on the use of clear and concise language that can be easily interpreted and understood.

You may include bright colours or sections with numbers or arrows to indicate how to read the poster. For example, you may use clear boxes or arrows to clearly demonstrate how to follow the poster. You may also  include more information on a QR Code or link with more information that is not included on the poster. 

It may also be prudent to include graphs or charts to illustrate your point if it makes it easier to understand. These may vary in complexity depending on how relevant they are to the target audience. 

It is important to ensure that you are following your assignment brief and are answering the question throughout your poster. If in doubt, ask your lecturer if information should be included and how it should be presented.

You could look at the example academic poster below for more information. 

Have a go at the quiz question on academic posters below.