This 30-minute Q&A session will answer questions that Neuroscience 2026 attendees may have regarding poster preparation and presentation, including where to start, how to visualize your ideas using text and figures, how to present to different audiences, how to handle questions and discussions at your poster, and how to follow up with your audience. Prior to participating in this Q&A session, attendees are encouraged to view last year's on-demand recording of “How to Make and Present a Poster for Neuroscience 2025.”
View last year's on-demand recording:
Q&A Session from "How to Make and Present a Poster for Neuroscience 2026"
Q: Can we use schematics, results, and figures to explain our research without including a lot of text?
A: Yes. Too much text can be distracting, but some text helps visitors understand your research when you are not there to present it. Aim for a poster that communicates your work clearly, even in your absence.
Q: If we had preliminary findings when we submitted our abstract but now have a nearly complete dataset, should we present our updated findings or only those included in the original submission?
A: You may update your results and include new details obtained after your abstract was submitted. However, the material presented must remain substantively identical to what is described in the abstract. The title, authorship, and scientific content of your presentation at the SfN event must match your submitted abstract.
Q: How can we protect the data shared in our presentations?
A: In addition to the suggestions provided by our panelists, we recommend including an SfN photography icon to indicate that you do not permit photographs of your presentation. Visit SfN’s Photography Policy for details and icons.
Q: This will be my first Neuroscience meeting. Are there any expectations or traditions specific to this community that I should know about?
A: Your first meeting can feel overwhelming, but take the opportunity to share your work, build connections, and learn from the neuroscience community.
Q: Will our abstracts be published, and will they appear on Google Scholar?
A: Abstracts are published in the Neuroscience Meeting Planner and will be available as PDFs on SfN.org in early November. They will not be indexed in other resources, such as Google Scholar.
Q: This will be my first international conference. Should I offer to walk visitors through my poster as soon as they arrive, or give them time to look it over first?
A: Give visitors a little time to look at your poster. If they linger, asking, “Would you like me to walk you through my poster?” is a welcoming way to start a conversation.
Q: How can I cover the key points of my symposium presentation in under five minutes?
A: Practice your presentation repeatedly, timing yourself to make sure you can cover your key points within the allotted time.
Q: Does SfN offer awards or recognition for outstanding posters at Neuroscience 2026? If so, what are the evaluation criteria, and do presenters need to apply in advance?
A: SfN does not offer awards for poster presentations.
Q: If we had preliminary results when we submitted our abstract but have since changed our data analysis approach, which version should we present on our poster?
A: You may update your results and include new details obtained after your abstract was submitted. However, the material presented must remain substantively identical to what is described in the abstract. The title, authorship, and scientific content of your presentation at the SfN event must match your submitted abstract.
Q: Should we include citations on our posters?
A: Yes. Citations acknowledge the work of other researchers and can create opportunities to connect with colleagues whose research you reference.
Q: This will be my first SfN meeting. What networking advice would you offer a graduate student?
A: Before the meeting, review the posters and talks to identify researchers you would like to meet. When you have a positive conversation with someone at your poster, ask for their name and email address to stay in touch. Include your own email address on your poster so visitors can contact you afterward.
Q: Whom can we contact with additional questions about our poster presentations?
A: You can email program@sfn.org with questions about your presentation.
Q: Can we take a selfie with someone who asks interesting questions at our poster?
A: Ask for their permission first, and make sure the photo does not include any research data.
Q: Where can I find the list of posters and the meeting schedule?
A: You can find poster listings and the meeting schedule in the Neuroscience Meeting Planner.
Q: What is the meeting planning tool called?
A: It is called the Neuroscience Meeting Planner.
Speakers
Who can attend these webinars? This webinar is open access and registration is complimentary.
Will the webinars be available on demand? Yes, all webinars will be available to watch on demand after the live broadcast.
How do I access the conference on the live day? After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the event link and the option to download calendar reminders.
What are the technology requirements for attending? Webinars are hosted on Zoom Webinar. Review instructions for joining and participating in a webinar.
Can I ask the presenters questions? Yes! You can submit questions before the webinar through the registration form. Also, during the webinar, you can submit questions through the Q&A box.
I have other questions not answered here. Email neuronline@sfn.org with any other questions.
Webinar attendees respect the sensitivity of information being presented and should not capture or publicly share details of any of the information presented.
Review SfN’s Code of Conduct and rules for virtual events in the Digital Learning Community Guidelines for more information.
Terms of Use – AI, Recording, and Content Use Clauses
Section: Acceptable Use of Webinars and Digital Content
Users accessing webinars, virtual events, and related digital content made available by the Society for Neuroscience (“SfN”) agree to comply with the following requirements:
- Prohibited Automated Access
You may not access, monitor, or interact with SfN webinars or content using any automated means, including but not limited to bots, scripts, crawlers, artificial intelligence agents, or similar technologies, without SfN’s prior written authorization. - Prohibition on Unauthorized Recording and Capture
You may not record, reproduce, capture, or store any webinar, presentation, or related content by any means, including screen recording, audio recording, or automated transcription tools, except where expressly permitted by SfN. - Restrictions on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Use
You may not use SfN content, in whole or in part, for the purpose of training, fine-tuning, validating, or otherwise developing any artificial intelligence, machine learning model, or similar technology.
You may not use AI systems to extract, summarize, or generate derivative works from SfN content for redistribution, publication, or commercial use without prior written authorization. - No Redistribution or Misrepresentation
You may not reproduce, distribute, publish, display, or otherwise share SfN webinar content or outputs derived from such content, including AI-generated summaries or interpretations, in a manner that misrepresents the content, the speaker’s intent, or the scientific conclusions presented. - Permitted Use
SfN webinar content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial educational use, subject to any additional access or licensing terms established by SfN. - Enforcement and Remedies
SfN reserves the right to suspend or terminate access for violations of these terms and may pursue any available legal or equitable remedies.
Webinar Refund Policy
- If SfN changes fundamental details of the webinar (date, time, or speakers), non-member registrants may request a registration refund. To request a refund, please email neuronline@sfn.org at least 48 hours before the event. Otherwise, refunds are not provided. All webinars are complimentary to SfN members.
- SfN webinars can typically be watched on-demand if someone is unable to attend the live broadcast.
