For this class you’ll work on individual research posters (22x28 inches) that will be due during class on Wednesday, July 17th. You will research a scientific topic of your choice that disproportionately affects a specific community or group of people and create a poster that informs on, contextualizes, or calls for action on your topic. For example, your poster might discuss Globeville, a Denver neighborhood with a historic immigrant population, that informs residents about environmental hazards in that area. Or your poster could provide details that encourage Native Americans/Alaskan Natives to be screened for diabetes because of their high risk for the disease. Our goals for this project are:
To explore your scientific interests and find areas of research that resonate with you.
To gain an understanding of the value of scientific research as a means to improve the lives of others.
Your poster will be informed by at least 3 sources. These can be anything - websites, books, scientific journal articles, or even archival materials. Along with your poster, you’ll turn in a brief annotated bibliography as a Microsoft Word file or Google Doc that cites your sources in APA format and provides a brief description (3-5 sentences) that summarizes the source and explains why it’s important. Here’s an example:
Otárola, M. (2022, August 17). ’This is the tip of the iceberg’—Colorado is tracking pollution in the state’s most impacted communities. Colorado Public Radio. https://www.cpr.org/2022/08/17/colorado-environmental-justice/
This news article from Colorado Public Radio describes the work of Sandra Ruiz-Parilla, an environmental activist and artist whose work brings attention to the environmental hazards faced by residents of Globeville, a Denver neighborhood with a significant immigrant population. Ruiz-Parilla has sought to engage the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment with members of the Globeville community in order to resolve problems that affect residents’ health and wellbeing. The article further details the department’s efforts to direct resources to environmental issues that disproportionately impact low-income areas and communities of color. This source is an excellent example of the disconnect between government policy and the lived experiences of people in those communities and demonstrates how environmental activists can help bridge that gap.
Research posters offer an engaging way to present to your work to others. They're used throughout the academic community, but especially among scientists. Many scientific conferences will include a poster session in their agenda. This offers conference attendees a quick way to learn about someone's research and the chance to meet them and ask questions. The sections of the poster vary depending on the topic being discussed and even the norms of the scientific field. For our purposes, you should feel free to include whatever sections make the most sense to you. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Title/Name - This one is non-negotiable! Let folks know who you are and craft an engaging title that describes your topic.
Introduction - Why is your topic important? Who should be concerned with the issue? What's the current state of things?
Research Question/Argument - What did you set out to learn about this topic? What ideas should someone researching the topic be concerned with?
Approach/Methods - What should be done about the topic? What steps/processes/means have allowed people to learn more?
Images/Tables/Graphs - These can be used to break up the "wall of text" and also provide a visual that helps your audience understand your work. Be sure to include a caption so viewers know what they're looking at.
Future Directions/Discussion - What actions should be taken? How should scientists or others go about making progress? How should your research be applied to real-world situations?
References/Further Reading - Another non-negotiable section. Remember those sources that helped your learn about your topic? Include them here so that others can do the same!
Acknowledgements - Was there a teacher or scientist who inspired you? Did your aunt convince you to spend part of your summer at CU? Give those folks a shout-out here.
Want to see some research posters on your area of interest? Try searching Google Images for the words "research poster" along with your topic (e.g. research poster zebrafish or research poster astrophysics). Chances are, you'll see some great examples, along with others that seem mind-bogglingly dense. In the video below, the psychologist Mike Morrison explains how to create a "better research poster."
You can use any research poster template you like as long as it's formatted for a 22 x 28 inch poster.
