Poster presentation

If you plan to give a poster presentation at the ICO Graduate Spring School (GSS2026), you’ll need to create a poster in A1 or A0 format. Each poster should be well-organised and engaging, including the following sections: background, research question, summary of method, summary of results, conclusions, take-home messages, and keywords. Aim for clarity and conciseness, and use diagrams, graphs, or tables to visually convey information and make your poster visually appealing.

During the GSS, posters will be grouped by theme, with each session featuring six posters. Each presenter will kick off with a 3 to 5-minute pitch highlighting the key messages of their poster, followed by an invitation for audience questions. After these brief presentations, both the audience and an assigned discussant will have time to circulate among the posters and engage in discussions with presenters. The discussant will provide feedback on both the content and the layout of the poster, considering aspects such as:

• The clarity and structure of the layout
• How effectively the poster captures attention
• The clarity of textual information presented
• The effectiveness of graphical information
• The originality and design of the poster

Each session will last 60 minutes and will be chaired by an ICO Fellow, starting with the introductory pitch for each poster.

Submission of Paper and Abstract
Poster presenters are asked to submit a brief paper (maximum 1,000 words in APA style, including references) by 1 March 2026 via the submission form for abstracts and papers. Of course this paper does not have to be a complete paper. You are expected to write a brief description explaining the focus of your poster, the current stage of your research, and the topics you would like to discuss with your audience. This short paper is intended to give the discussant insight into your research and will serve as a basis for discussion after your pitch. Additionally, submit an abstract of up to 300 words, which will be published on the GSS-website for attendees. The paper itself will be shared only with your discussant and the session chair and will not be used in any other publications.

Are you unsure about what to submit? We have added three papers that were send in for a previous Spring School.

Poster Presentation and Discussion Format

• Introductory Pitch by Presenters: 3-5 minutes per poster
• Audience and Discussant Review: 30 minutes of interactive discussion as the audience circulates around the room.

This format offers an excellent opportunity to receive targeted feedback on your research, engage with peers, and refine your ideas in an open, collaborative environment at the GSS2026