Poster presentations

Viewing in-person poster presentations

• Individuals presenting posters in-person should note the posters will be available for public viewing prior to the morning session, over the lunch hour, and during the morning and afternoon breaks. 
• Poster presenters should make themselves available during the break times to meet with and discuss their posters with Symposium attendees. Symposium audience includes academics, students, practitioners, and the general public. 

Viewing virtual poster presentations

The virtual presentation session will be available for viewing online for a limited time on May 7, 2025. Audio narration is mandatory for your poster presentation. Presenters must submit their poster in an audio recorded, five slide format.

1. Presenters will be allotted five minutes maximum to present, using a maximum of five slides (includes any title or reference slides) to discuss their research. This method is much easier for virtual attendees to follow the visuals with the audio. Presenters are required to include audio narration for the viewing audience.

Presenters who exceed the scheduled time will be contacted, and will need to adjust their presentations to meet the five-minute time limit.

1. The presentation session will stream live on the day of the Symposium (9 a.m.–4 p.m. ) There will be no opportunity for virtual poster presenters and the viewing audience to connect and discuss research online.
2. We encourage you to include your UM email contact information for those viewers who may want to reach out and ask any follow up questions about your virtual presentation.
3. To view the presentations, Symposium virtual poster attendees will click a link on the Table of Contents to access the poster session webpage.
4. While not presenting in-person, virtual poster presenters are encouraged to take part in Symposium presentations online. 

• Posters must be prepared in conference format style and printed in wide format to display on the assigned poster board. The poster boards are velcro style, 6 ft x 4 ft boards. Layouts should allow space for titles and authors. Presenters will be allowed one poster per board side.
• Poster dimensions of your poster should be no larger than 4 ft x 3 ft (or 42 inches (width) x 32 inches (height)), including the margin, and printed in wide format to display on the assigned poster board.
  Refer to the CADLab printing web page for printing information. 
• It is the responsibility of the presenter to print their own poster. NOTE: The CADLab hours of operation are subject to change. Print your poster well before Spring Research Symposium!
• A limited amount of Velcro dots  will be available for presenters to hang their poster. These will be available first come, first serve.
• In-person poster presenters may provide copies of their presentation, other related handouts, and include your contact information for symposium attendees.
• Use appropriate, respectful language when discussing older adults. Refer to the American Psychological Association's guidelines for bias-free language as it relates to age inclusivity and respect, as outlined on their Web site.
• Ensure that you are following appropriate copyright standards. You should be citing your sources and using Creative Commons or Public Domain images. Visit the UM Copyright Office’s website for additional information. 
• When using the UM logo, ensure you are using the correct version as per the UM style guidelines (See Brand resources section): umanitoba.ca/about-um/brand.
• On the day of the Symposium, all posters must be removed from the poster boards at 4 p.m. Centre on Aging staff are not responsible for posters not removed by 4 p.m.

1. Create your slide presentation, using a maximum of five slides in PowerPoint. When using the UM logo, ensure you are using the correct version as per the UM style guidelines: umanitoba.ca/about-um/brand. 
   
   Additionally, you may use the UM branded PowerPoint template, which is also available to download from the UM style guidelines webpage. Or, you may use your own PowerPoint slide template.

• Choose the slide size of 16:9 (widescreen), which is more effective for the viewing audience. Remember, they may be viewing your presentation on a computer, tablet, or mobile device.
• To do this, in PowerPoint, select the Design tab>Slide size>Widescreen. 
• Suggested minimum font size should be 18 points.
• Try to use a maximum of six lines per slide.
• Write for a general audience. Symposium attendees generally are made up of the general public, academic, practitioners and professionals, and government organizations.
• For readability, we suggest you use dark colours (black, brown, blue) on a light background; and avoid using light colours on a dark background that may be difficult to read on screen (white, yellow)
• Avoid including busy graphs that require a lot of explanation. Include only relevant images or graphs.

2. Use appropriate, respectful language when discussing older adults. Refer to the American Psychological Association's guidelines for bias-free language as it relates to age inclusivity and respect, as outlined on their Web site.
3. Ensure that you are following appropriate copyright standards. You should be citing your sources and using Creative Commons or Public Domain images. Visit the UM Copyright Office’s website for additional information.
4. Due to the virtual nature of the poster session, students, post docs, and Research Affiliates should provide context about their poster and include audio narration. The narration simulates what you might do with someone in-person.

Think of it as if you were providing a virtual tour of your presentation. Provide a maximum five minute narration. Walk the audience through your poster by:

• highlighting certain elements of figures, tables or pictures, etc.;
• discussing how you conducted your research;
• using plain language, as attendees come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, and the general public; and
• speaking clearly and at a steady pace.

Recording your virtual presentation

1. Record your five minute presentation in Zoom. If you need help recording, view this short video tutorial on preparing your PowerPoint presentation in Zoom.
2. Save your file in an MP4 file format.

Submitting your virtual presentation

1. Once you have received confirmation of participation in the poster session, your virtual poster submissions must be received by April17, 2025 by 4 p.m. Presenters should only submit their final narrated presentation version. Any poster submissions received after April 17 will not be accepted.
2. Name your presentation file in the following format: first author’s “last name-poster title”. This will help us to prepare the files for the online format.
   e.g., murphy exploratory study of google nest hubs in the long-term care setting in Manitoba
3. Submit your virtual poster via Dropbox and share your folder with rachel.ines@umanitoba.ca. We will confirm receipt of your virtual poster once received.
4. Closer to the Symposium date, you will be notified where to find your virtual presentation online.
5. On the day of the Symposium, all virtual presentations will be taken offline at 4 p.m.

For more information

If you require additional information on submitting a poster or require a poster template for the Spring Research Symposium, contact Nicole Dunn.