The method is therefore not the last resort in terms of time usage. On the other hand, a poster can be used for informal discussions, questions and feedback – since, unlike a time-limited PowerPoint presentation, there is usually no strict order of speakers. Photographs and colour diagrams mean that our research material needs far less explanation than if we would only take notes for our audience. It is not just that it is easy to achieve its purpose, which is to present a piece of research in a concise and eye-catching way: the format itself is much less constrained than, for example, a frontal presentation. Most people prefer the poster as a presentation method because the images and diagrams on the large surface are incredibly spectacular and therefore can be really convincing. The purpose and benefits of the poster: when has it done its job well? The target audience is usually familiar with the discipline, so those with a deeper interest in the research can get more information, most often in a leaflet, pdf or a business card with a website. At conferences, a representative of a particular discipline presents the results of his or her research in a poster – with minimal text, but rather with an eye-catching title and summary, topic specific images and diagrams. The scientific poster is in fact an established form of communication in the scientific world. Main features of scientific poster presentations However, since it takes an average 8 seconds for conference participants to decide which poster to read next, you may ask: why is this method so popular? How to put together a good scientific poster? In this article, we’ll explain what a scientific poster is and give you some tips on how to make one! It outlines a piece of research in its entire, condensed form, so it is like a large, detailed infographic: on a minimum surface of 90 x 120 cm, the scientific results are illustrated with diagrams, pictures and tables. The scientific poster is one of the main, primary forms of presenting scientific results.