Abstracts/poster presentations – a step by step guide

WHAT IS A POSTER PRESENTATION?

A poster is a presentation of research information.  It is a visual display and should be eye catching.  Posters can be created using a presentation programme such as PowerPoint.

Posters at the conference will be displayed on notice boards.  There are particular size specifications – see ERIC guidelines for details.

WHERE DO I START?

Choose a project!  This may be some work you have been doing, or a new idea you want to work on in the next few months.  N.B. It must be new! It could be research, audit, case studies or a literature review.

OK, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Not just any poster can be displayed!  It is only those accepted by the ERIC Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), but you don’t send your poster at this stage, you send an Abstract.

An Abstract is a short, standalone summary of your project that you have to write in the format as detailed below:

1) Background/Introduction

• This tells the reader why you decided to do this project.
• It doesn’t have to be very detailed, especially as you have a word limit!

2) Aim/Objective

• What problem is your research trying to better understand or solve?
• It needs to be short, relevant, specific and measurable

3) Method

• This explains how you did your research or, if you reviewed the work of others, you can briefly explain it here.
• How did you choose your research group?
• How did you measure what you set out to measure in your aim/objective section?

4) Results

• What is it that you found?
• What answer did you reach from your research or study?
• For qualitative studies, you could include the dominant themes emerging from your research
• For quantitative studies, this is where you summarise your data – the number crunching bit!

5) Conclusion

• This ties everything up. It’s here that you address the meaning of your findings; what are the implications of your work?
• Relate back to your aim/objective by using the exact (or almost exact) words that you used previously to make it very clear to the reader what your final conclusion is and if there are any implications for the future finish with those

6) Don’t forget to add any references at the end.

Once you have written your Abstract you have to submit it for review.  All the details are included in the ERIC guidelines for submission.  N.B. Word limit is 400 words!

Hopefully your Abstract will be approved!  If so, you then need to create your poster!  There are lots of guides to poster writing available online and you need to check the ERIC guidelines for the poster dimensions.

ERIC TIPS!

1. A design should be clear and easy to read. Don’t use less than size 24 point font.
2. You can expand on your Abstract – the word count can be up to about 800 words but you can also include pictures, charts and graphs etc.
3. Make sure it is not too cluttered! Guide the reader’s eyes with arrows, numbering or whatever else makes sense to get them to move from one logical step to another.
4. Everything on the poster should help convey the message. Remember clarity, precision of expression and economy of words.  Use of graphics can transform complex data into a coherent and convincing story.
5. The poster should convey your personality! Draw the reader into your passion for the subject.
6. Don’t forget to include acknowledgements, your name and institutional affiliation.

Every successful applicant will be able to display their poster at the ERIC Conference.  You don’t need to send it in advance – just make sure you are there by 9.00am on Monday 12^th October 2026.

The top three applicants will also be invited to present their findings in person in the 4pm Poster Presentation section of the conference at which the overall winner will be announced!