For what purposes and applications is a poster suitable? You will learn this in this step.

Scientific posters are commonly used in the natural sciences as a means of communication, and less frequently in the humanities. They are used, for example, at conferences, workshops and symposia. At such events, there are (usually separate) poster sessions to compactly present a project or research results to other researchers.

But scientific posters are also used outside of universities, for example in museums or at public events. There, they can make complex topics accessible to a broad audience that is not familiar with the specific field.

Posters stand on their own and are usually not accompanied by a presentation, as is the case with handouts and PowerPoint slides. This means: On limited, albeit large-area, space (usually DIN A0), posters should be coherent in themselves. They should contain all essential content in a condensed, visually appealing and easy-to-understand manner.

Conversely, this means: Scientific posters are not suitable for detailed analyses and derivations or for lengthy explanations as in essays and monographs.

A successful poster allows you to effectively present your research, generate interest in your project and receive feedback from other researchers during networking. You will learn in this chapter how to design posters best for these purposes.