16-ISABC · Ioannina 2023

Poster session tips for engaging judges and researchers

A poster is a live interface between evidence and audience, not a compressed paper taped to a board. At an applied bioinorganic chemistry meeting, the strongest display gives a passer-by a clear result in seconds, then rewards closer inspection with sound experimental detail. Preparation, design and delivery work together when every visual element supports the same claim.

The 16th International Symposium on Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry brought researchers to Ioannina, Greece, in June 2023. Organised by the University of Ioannina, it covered developments across applied bioinorganic chemistry, while official information supported symposium participation, young scientist travel awards, poster prizes, scholarships and application requirements. The programme helped speakers align their displays with the meeting’s rhythm.

These poster session tips focus on making a display easier to understand, discuss and remember. They suit students, early-career researchers and established teams presenting to judges, collaborators and curious visitors, including delegates travelling from Australian cities and universities.

Frame one message for rapid understanding

Begin with the sentence you want a judge to repeat later: “This method improves X under condition Y.” Use it as the poster title, then support it with three or four linked panels—context, approach, evidence and impact. A working title such as “Nickel uptake in coastal microbes” describes a subject, while “Coastal isolates use a nickel transporter under low-carbon conditions” gives the audience a finding.

Plan the reading route from left to right and keep one dominant message visible from across the hall. The methods panel should explain why the experiment was done and how it was controlled; the results panel should expose the key comparison. Check the symposium schedule to confirm your assigned slot, presentation length and display format before finalising the amount of text.

Design for distance and accessibility

Test the poster from two to three metres away, then from arm’s length. Large headings, strong contrast and generous white space establish a hierarchy before anyone reads a caption. Avoid dense paragraphs, tiny legends and colour-dependent conclusions. A restrained palette and direct labels help visitors with colour-vision differences, while consistent symbols and units reduce cognitive load.

Make the central figure readable without narration and give every graph a declarative title. State sample size, uncertainty and the most important comparison directly on the plot. Add a short plain-language takeaway, describe what each colour or marker means, and use high-contrast text. A QR code can lead to accessible data, a protocol or a repository, but essential information must remain on the poster.

Turn discussion into collaboration

Stand beside, rather than in front of, the poster and let visitors open the conversation. Offer a concise opening: “We tested whether…, and the main finding is….” This creates an entry point without forcing a full lecture. Maintain eye contact, speak at the visitor’s level of expertise and adjust the depth—from application and implications to instrumental details—according to their questions.

Treat every question as evidence of interest. Restate complex points, acknowledge uncertainty and distinguish measured results from interpretation. Judges often compare clarity, rigour and responsiveness, while other researchers may be probing reproducibility or seeking collaborators. A structured peer benchmarking method offers a useful model: define fair measures, gather comparable observations and discuss differences instead of relying on impression.

Plan travel, printing and compliance

Researchers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane face long-haul flights and a substantial time-zone shift before reaching Ioannina. Carry the poster as a protected roll in a rigid tube, and keep the digital file on a laptop and in cloud storage. At the venue, confirm board dimensions, mounting points and available display time early rather than waiting for a session announcement.

The Australian market for university printing, couriers and replacement boards is competitive, so compare quotes for the required size and ask whether local printing is safer than transporting a finished sheet. Australian Type I plugs and 230 V supply also deserve attention; Greece commonly uses Type C or F sockets, so bring a suitable adaptor and a charged power bank.

Compliance starts before packing. Health or participant information may engage the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles, while biological materials can trigger institutional biosafety approval and BICON import-permit checks. Review approvals and data-sharing duties with your supervisor; never bring regulated samples to the poster session without the required permissions. Zita Congress & Event Management, the official secretariat, handles registration, accommodation and abstract enquiries through the official registration portal.

Recommendations for a memorable poster

Before printing, review the display against this practical checklist:

Ask a colleague outside the project to identify the main finding in ten seconds; their hesitation reveals where the hierarchy is weak. Then test the poster with a non-specialist and a laboratory specialist, because engaging a mixed scientific audience requires both immediate clarity and credible depth.

Present your work with confidence

Rehearse the first minute until it sounds conversational rather than recited. Practise pointing to each stage of the poster, explaining one key control and acknowledging the study’s main limitation. During discussion, pause before answering, check that the relevant panel is visible and end by stating the next collaborative step, such as a shared experiment or further validation.

Take action now: confirm the abstract, proof the final artwork, check the schedule, complete registration and pack both printed and digital versions. Arrive early to inspect the allocated space, introduce yourself to neighbouring presenters and keep a few minutes free for researchers who arrive after the initial rush. A well-prepared poster invites scrutiny, and a thoughtful exchange turns that scrutiny into useful scientific connection.