Submitting a Poster

The conference will host posters relating to research, new projects or solutions in health and humanitarian logistics. A typical poster summarizes work done (e.g., by NGOs, companies, academics, or others) to solve a particular problem. This type of presentation is a great way of obtaining feedback and generating discussions with conference attendees.

For examples of posters that were presented in past conferences, please visit the poster area for each respective conference year: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009.

Presenting a Poster

Poster presenter(s) will be asked to present during multiple time slots, both days of the event (dates and time slots will be provided as soon as the conference program is confirmed). During the poster sessions, all presenters are expected to be available in front of their posters. However, posters will be displayed throughout the entire conference; therefore please set up your poster as soon as you arrive to the conference site.

As attendees visit your poster, be prepared to give a short presentation of your work (no more than several minutes). Most likely, you will repeat this description several times as attendees pass through. If you would like to share additional information with interested attendees, you can bring your laptop (e.g., to show an animation) or additional printed materials (e.g., research papers or copies of your poster) to be handed out.

*A selected subset of poster presenters will also have the opportunity to do “rapid fire” (around 5 min.) presentations in a designated session.

Financial Assistance

Limited funds are available to support students presenting accepted posters at the conference. Support includes free conference registration and up to $250 in travel expenses for students traveling within Europe and up to $500 for students traveling outside of Europe (e.g. from Africa, United States, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, etc.). To be considered for financial support, please attach a single PDF file containing the below as part of your poster submission.

• your resume
• a statement (< 1 page) about why you are interested in the humanitarian sector
• a transcript
• a reference letter from an advisor
• an estimate of your expenses for the conference

*To receive a reimbursement, poster presenters must scan and e-mail valid travel expense receipts to the conference organizers. Presenters will be only be reimbursed up to the total amount noted above. If your expenses do not total up to the noted limit, you will only receive a reimbursement for the total of your receipts. Valid travel expenditures must be directly related to conference attendance (airline tickets, lodging, other transportation such as taxis, public transport, parking, rental car, gas mileage, etc.). Meals and coffee breaks provided as part of the conference will not be covered. The person named as the poster presenter in the online application must submit original receipts to conference organizers. After the "expense report" is approved, a reimbursement for travel expenses will be processed.

Submitting a Poster

Posters consist of a visual display created by the presenter (e.g., approx. 1 square meter or 81cm x 101cm / 32in x 40in) to be placed on a standing easel where the presenter(s) will be available to discuss the poster during specific scheduled times at the conference. For instructions and guidelines, please review the Poster Instructions document.

Presentation: Poster presenter(s) will be asked to present during multiple time slots, both days of the event (dates and time slots will be provided as soon as the conference program is confirmed). During the poster sessions, all presenters are expected to be available in front of their posters. However, posters will be displayed throughout the entire conference; therefore please set up your poster as soon as you arrive to the conference site.

As attendees visit your poster, be prepared to give a short presentation of your work (no more than several minutes). Most likely, you will repeat this description several times as attendees pass through. If you would like to share additional information with interested attendees, you can bring your laptop (e.g., to show an animation) or additional printed materials (e.g., research papers or copies of your poster) to be handed out.

Poster Materials: You can create the poster in the form of a single page, measuring 81cm x 101cm (32in x 40inches), or you can use 9 (no overlap) to 16 (with overlap) PowerPoint slides printed on paper, 21.6cm x 27.9cm pages (8.5 x 11-inch), preferably in color. Pushpins will be available at the poster site for tacking your presentation to the poster board.

Poster Content: As you would do in a regular presentation. Headings should be at least 30 pt while the text should be at least 20 pt. Try to avoid using too much text but rather use figures and pictures whenever possible.

• Use text, plots and figures to describe your work;
• Create a title page or area which includes the title of the paper and author information;
• Explain the objective of your research (or major research questions), methodology, and results/insights.

Additional information: For detailed instructions on preparing effective poster presentations or for poster samples from other conferences, please visit:

• http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/bio/posters.html
• http://urp.udel.edu/posterses.html
• http://www.eng.iastate.edu/nsf2002/poster.html

Template: A poster template in PowerPoint has been provided that conforms to the noted size and mounting boards. Participants do not have to use this template; they can make their own poster. If they do use it, the following tips may help:

• Modify the template for your organization (e.g., logos, colors, etc.) and project.
• Try printing the template poster to .pdf. We have been successful printing to .pdf using the OpenOffice application (rather than printing directly to Adobe Acrobat), because the sizing is easier), then had a print shop print the full sized poster from the pdf file.
• Put in tables and figures first and text last, since Powerpoint may automatically resize tables and figures.
• Handouts of the poster can be printed to a single sheet to hand out at the conference.

Each presenter will be provided with pins/clips and a mounting board measuring approximately 81cm x 101cm (or 32in x 40inches) that will be placed on a poster easel. Poster presenters are required to print and bring his/her own poster.

• Poster presenters will be notified of status of submission (and financial support application if qualifying student) by Friday, April 21st.
• A PDF version of the poster should be finalized and sent to Meghan Smithgall at humlogconf@gatech.edu by Friday, May 19th.