This workshop focussed on transforming the research narrative (i.e. a line) into a set of ideas (i.e. points) in order for students to communicate effectively to people who do not share the same context (i.e. the industry audience). In Part B of the workshop, we focussed on critiquing some posters from a past Innovation Showcase.
Date: Thursday 25 August & 1 September 2016
Time: 3pm – 5pm
Location: Room 7.84, Caulfield Campus.
A researcher should recognise that research sometimes has to be published beyond academia (to non-academic audiences). Some interesting pointers that I wish to highlight (and were widely discussed during the session) included:
- Poster publication is still a formal communication.
- Terminology can be tweaked in the poster to suit the readership.
- Having a catchy title helps to grab the attention of user.
- The title should resonate/associate with your targeted audience.
- For non-academic audience, emphasis should be on :
- the key highlights of the project (not the narrative, literature review, or research methodology etc)
- the section that attracts the readers attention (even though it not be the most “juicy part” of your project)
- global significance (contribution to society – relevance to average human being)
Additionally the general consensus from this session (and as Prof. Sue highlighted) was that when designing a good poster, one should ask:
- Who are the audiences?
- Who are you?
- What are you delivering?
- .. and what is your title then ?
I personally find these ideas and tips very helpful as I conclude the first year of my research journey.
