Poster Judging : Cal NERDS' Faculty Centric Research Poster Judging Method

UC Berkeley Events
4 Mar 201410:52
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, Caroline Kane and Professor Rudy Ortiz discuss the art of faculty judging at scientific poster sessions. They emphasize the importance of poster composition, clarity, and the student's ability to communicate their research effectively. The script highlights key elements of a successful poster, such as layout, color scheme, and the inclusion of future work and acknowledgments. It also showcases an example of a student, Steven Chavez, presenting his poster on artificial photosynthesis, demonstrating how to engage with judges and answer questions about his research.

Takeaways
  • 📌 The video is about faculty judging of posters at scientific conferences, with a focus on providing guidelines for a pleasant judging experience for both judges and students.
  • 🔍 Faculty members can choose which posters to judge, but a sticker with the student's name and topic is used to ensure clarity and organization during the judging process.
  • 🎯 There are three main categories to consider when judging posters: poster composition and clarity, the student's ability to communicate their science, and the student's general communication and professionalism skills.
  • 🧠 The science presented is the primary feature, and the student's ability to discuss their science is considered more important than the poster layout itself.
  • 📚 Good poster features include a clear layout, logical flow, and the ability to convey information to someone outside of the presenter's discipline.
  • 🎨 The color scheme and visual elements of a poster are important as they contribute to its effectiveness as a communication tool.
  • 📊 The poster should include clear bullet points, well-marked graphs, and a concise series of conclusions to aid in understanding and readability.
  • 🔍 Judges may not always be able to get close to the poster, so figures and text need to be large enough to be seen from a distance.
  • 📝 The minimum font size for text should be 16 points to ensure readability, and the poster should outline future work and acknowledgments effectively.
  • 🤝 The interaction between the judge and the student is crucial, with the student expected to articulate their project and its significance.
  • 🏆 Judges place a dot at the upper right corner of the poster to indicate that it has been judged, providing feedback and recognition to the student.
Q & A

  • What is the primary purpose of faculty judging posters at scientific conferences?

    -The primary purpose of faculty judging posters is to evaluate the quality of the science presented, the clarity of the poster, and the student's ability to communicate their research effectively.

  • Why is it important for faculty to use a sticker with the student's name and topic on the judging sheet?

    -Using a sticker with the student's name and topic ensures clarity and organization, helping to make sure that the correct student receives the proper score at the end of the judging process.

  • What are the three main categories that Caroline Kane looks for when judging a poster?

    -The three main categories are poster composition and clarity, the student's ability to put the science in context and describe their work, and the general communication and professionalism skills of the student.

  • Why is the student's ability to describe their science considered more important than the poster layout itself?

    -The student's ability to describe their science is considered more important because it demonstrates their understanding and ability to communicate their research effectively, which is the primary feature of a scientific conference.

  • What does Professor Rudy Ortiz emphasize about the poster's layout in terms of readability and logical flow?

    -Professor Ortiz emphasizes that the layout should be open, well-described, and easy to read, with a logical flow that allows judges to understand the poster even if it's outside their area of expertise.

  • What advice does the script give regarding the size of figures on a poster?

    -The script advises that figures should be large enough to be visible from a distance, as judges may not always be able to stand close to the poster, especially during busy sessions.

  • Why is it important for a poster to convey information even to someone outside the presenter's discipline?

    -It's important because judges at a conference may come from various disciplines, and the ability to convey the science clearly to a general audience is a strength of effective scientific communication.

  • What are some features of a good poster according to the script?

    -Some features of a good poster include a clear color scheme, an organized layout with bullet points, clearly marked graphs, a logical flow, and a section outlining future work and acknowledgments.

  • What is the significance of the student's presence during the poster judging session?

    -The student's presence is significant because the judges evaluate not only the poster but also the student's ability to discuss their research, answer questions, and demonstrate their understanding of the science.

  • What does the script suggest about the minimum font size for a poster?

    -The script suggests that the minimum font size should be 16 points for most of the text to ensure readability, especially for judges who may be standing at a distance.

  • How does the script describe the process of judging a poster in terms of interaction with the student?

    -The script describes the process as an evaluation of both the poster and the student's ability to communicate their research. It includes asking the student questions about their poster, their rationale for the design, and their future work.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Introduction to Faculty Judging of Posters

Caroline Kane and Professor Rudy Ortiz introduce the topic of faculty judging of posters at scientific conferences. They aim to guide new judges and students on how to make the judging process pleasant for all parties involved. The importance of organization and clarity in judging is emphasized, with the use of stickers to identify students and their topics. Three main categories for judging are mentioned: poster composition and clarity, the student's ability to contextualize and describe their science, and the student's general communication and professionalism during the judging.

05:02
🔍 Evaluating Poster Composition and Clarity

The speakers discuss the importance of a poster's layout, readability, and logical flow. They highlight the need for a poster to be understandable even to those outside the presenter's discipline. The use of color schemes, bullet points, and a limited number of clear graphs are praised as effective communication tools. The speakers also advise on making figures larger for better visibility from a distance and ensuring the font size is legible. They mention the poster's ability to convey the student's understanding of their science and outline future work, as well as the acknowledgments section.

10:03
🎓 The Role of the Student in Poster Judging

The focus shifts to the student's role in the poster judging process. The student, Steven Chavez, is introduced, and his poster is evaluated based on the previously discussed criteria. The conversation between the judges and Steven covers the rationale behind his poster's design, the choice of project, and the use of terminology accessible to a general science audience. The judges also inquire about the future work outlined in the poster and its relation to the current project. The session concludes with the judges placing dots on the poster to indicate it has been judged, emphasizing the importance of the student's active participation in the scientific communication.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Faculty Judging
Faculty Judging refers to the process where academic faculty members evaluate and critique student work, typically at scientific conferences. In the context of the video, it is specifically about evaluating posters presented by students. The theme revolves around how faculty members assess the quality of the posters, focusing on their scientific content, presentation, and the students' ability to communicate their research effectively.
💡Scientific Conferences
Scientific Conferences are gatherings where researchers and academics present their findings and discuss their work. In the video, these conferences serve as the platform where students showcase their research through posters, and faculty members judge these presentations. The importance of these conferences lies in their role as a forum for intellectual exchange and the opportunity they provide for students to receive feedback on their work.
💡Posters
In the academic context, posters are visual displays that summarize research projects. They are a common medium for presenting scientific findings at conferences. The video emphasizes the importance of poster composition, clarity, and the ability of students to convey their research effectively through these visual aids. The script discusses how faculty judges evaluate the poster's layout, content, and the student's ability to discuss their science.
💡Clarity
Clarity in the video refers to the ease with which the information on a poster can be understood. It is a critical aspect of effective scientific communication. The script mentions that a good poster should have a clear layout, logical flow, and be easy to read, which helps judges and other attendees grasp the research's essence quickly.
💡Student's Ability
The student's ability to articulate their research is a central theme in the video. It is not just about the poster's design but also about the student's capacity to explain their science in a clear and engaging manner. The script highlights that the student's ability to put the science in context and describe their work is more important than the poster layout itself.
💡Science
Science in the video is the core subject matter that students are researching and presenting. The script emphasizes that the primary feature of a poster is the science it represents, and the student's ability to discuss this science is crucial. The clarity and accuracy with which the science is communicated are key factors in the judging process.
💡Communication Skills
Communication Skills are essential for students when presenting their research at conferences. The video discusses how students must be able to communicate their findings professionally and effectively. This includes not only the clarity of their spoken explanations but also their ability to engage with judges and answer questions about their work.
💡Poster Composition
Poster Composition refers to the arrangement and design of the poster. The script mentions that a good poster should have a well-organized layout, clear sections, and logical flow. This helps judges and attendees understand the research at a glance, which is crucial for effective scientific communication.
💡Color Scheme
The Color Scheme of a poster is discussed in the video as an element that can affect its readability and appeal. While it may seem trivial, the script points out that the poster's color scheme is part of its communication tool, helping to make the poster visually accessible and easy to read.
💡Future Work
Future Work is a section in a poster that outlines potential next steps or further research directions. In the video, the script highlights the importance of this section, as it shows the student's understanding of the broader implications of their research and their ability to think ahead about how their work could be expanded.
💡Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments in a poster are a section where the student thanks those who contributed to their research. The script mentions that the way acknowledgments are presented can also be a factor in the poster's overall quality, reflecting the student's professionalism and gratitude.
Highlights

Caroline Kane and Professor Rudy Ortiz discuss faculty judging of posters at scientific conferences.

Faculty judges select which posters to evaluate, ensuring clarity with stickers containing student names and topics.

Three main categories for judging posters: composition and clarity, student's ability to contextualize science, and general communication skills.

The science presented is the primary feature, with the student's explanation being crucial.

A good poster should have an open layout, well-described sections, and logical flow.

The poster should be understandable even to those outside the student's specific scientific discipline.

Color scheme and clarity of the poster are important for effective communication.

Bullet points and clear graphs are beneficial for a busy poster.

Judges advise on making figures larger for better visibility from a distance.

Font size should meet minimum requirements, typically 16 points or larger.

Outlining future work and organizing acknowledgments are appreciated in a poster.

The student's ability to discuss their science is more important than the poster layout.

Steven Chavez, a senior at UC Berkeley, presents his poster on artificial photosynthesis.

The rationale behind the poster design is to facilitate clear communication of the science.

Chavez's project combines his interests in material science, biochemistry, and engineering.

The use of a sacrificial reagent is explained as a baseline for comparison in the project.

Future work outlined in the poster aims to improve material design and efficiency parameters.

Judges place dots at the upper right corner of the poster to indicate it has been judged.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

How to DESIGN an ACADEMIC POSTER in Microsoft PowerPoint

How to make a great research poster? Academic poster design for conference (PhD). Layout/formatting

Giving an Effective Poster Presentation

How to create a better research poster in less time (#betterposter Generation 1)

What makes a great research poster? [Good and Bad Examples]

How to Make a Good Research Poster in Adobe Illustrator

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
Scientific PostersFaculty JudgingConference TipsPoster CompositionStudent PresentationScience CommunicationResearch EvaluationUC BerkeleyArtificial PhotosynthesisJudges' Perspective