4 ms·

Why do these still exist? Is this really how academics find out about the paper and not just read the paper? I'm flabbergasted conferences are like middle schoo

Why do these still exist? Is this really how academics find out about the paper and not just read the paper? I'm flabbergasted conferences are like middle school science fairs.

PeterStuer 5y ago
The poster session is a social occasion. Besides, there's not enough time in the conference to let every attendant present, and most participants need an accepted paper to be granted the funding to attend.
molbioguy 5y ago
Work presented in a poster doesn't have to be published. And the biggest benefit is you usually get to talk to a person standing with the poster that did the work. Lot's of interesting information comes by that route, not to mention connections.
vibrio 5y ago
There is tremendous value in poster session. Most data is prepublication, and getting candid 1 on 1 discussion with others in the field, including potential reviewers, is great. Also, the networking is valuable- many next jobs start in Poster session discussions. And also wandering through rows of posters and having the investigator walk you through the study us a great way to broaden knowledge. In my day some meeting used to have beer/wine at poster sessions. Good stuff.
lqr 5y ago
The poster is an advertisement for the paper. Same goes for oral sessions. Almost all talks include the phrase "for details, see our paper". Posters are a nice middle ground between an abstract and a full paper. Spending 5 minutes at a poster talking with the author is almost always enough information to decide if you want to read the paper carefully. This is especially important in theoretical fields where it can take hours/days to fully comprehend difficult proofs. Poster sessions are also important for meeting people in your niche.
rsfern 5y ago
To add some complementary points to what others have posted, poster sessions are great for undergraduate students and junior grad students to cut their teeth on presenting research in a lower pressure environment. Plus networking — the poster sessions can be great for established researchers who might be recruiting students and postdocs

Why do these still exist? Is this really how academics find out about the paper and not just read the paper? I'm flabbergasted conferences are like middle school science fairs.

PeterStuer 5y ago

The poster session is a social occasion. Besides, there's not enough time in the conference to let every attendant present, and most participants need an accepted paper to be granted the funding to attend.

molbioguy 5y ago

Work presented in a poster doesn't have to be published. And the biggest benefit is you usually get to talk to a person standing with the poster that did the work. Lot's of interesting information comes by that route, not to mention connections.

vibrio 5y ago

There is tremendous value in poster session. Most data is prepublication, and getting candid 1 on 1 discussion with others in the field, including potential reviewers, is great. Also, the networking is valuable- many next jobs start in Poster session discussions. And also wandering through rows of posters and having the investigator walk you through the study us a great way to broaden knowledge. In my day some meeting used to have beer/wine at poster sessions. Good stuff.

lqr 5y ago

The poster is an advertisement for the paper. Same goes for oral sessions. Almost all talks include the phrase "for details, see our paper". Posters are a nice middle ground between an abstract and a full paper. Spending 5 minutes at a poster talking with the author is almost always enough information to decide if you want to read the paper carefully. This is especially important in theoretical fields where it can take hours/days to fully comprehend difficult proofs. Poster sessions are also important for meeting people in your niche.

rsfern 5y ago

To add some complementary points to what others have posted, poster sessions are great for undergraduate students and junior grad students to cut their teeth on presenting research in a lower pressure environment. Plus networking — the poster sessions can be great for established researchers who might be recruiting students and postdocs