The International Studies Association recognizes poster sessions as an important element of our Annual Convention. Done effectively, posters can provide a scholar with much more feedback than s/he would receive during a traditional panel session. As an alternative method to panels for disseminating and evaluating research, poster sessions are a visual and concise method of presenting one's work. Though they are relatively new to political science, poster sessions have long been utilized at professional meetings by a number of other academic and professional organizations (e.g. American Medical Association, American Statistical Association, American Psychology Association).
To find the time and location for your poster session, please see the convention program. Posters for the 2008 San Francisco Convention will be located in the South and West Lounges of the Hilton San Francisco. A floor plan will be posted when it becomes available.
As other convention delegates come into the poster and exhibits area and look over your presentation, you have the opportunity to engage in a much more detailed discussion of your research, the methodology and your findings than you might otherwise in a traditional panel format. While you do not make a formal delivery of your paper, you will be able to engage in a more informal and more in depth discussion of your work. You are expected to post your paper to the online paper archive. You may also find it convenient to bring a few copies of your paper to distribute during your poster session and for the delegates at large. The number of copies you bring is up to you.
Since poster sessions are a relatively new venue for many presenters, we have compiled some guidelines for successful sessions to help you prepare for optimum visibility and interaction with the viewers. We also recommend the following resources to help you in preparing your poster presentation:
