Each poster session you attend can reveal a little more about how science really works. Experimental techniques, updated code, data reanalysis, careful adjustments to observation… the base of the scientific food chain that feeds the flashy headlines starts here at the poster session.
The display of a scientific poster may be the closest a scientist gets to exhibiting art. And, like art, great depth can be seen if you know what to look for. Math, logic, and data are jammed through an undertrained kaleidoscope of graphic design, aesthetics, advertisement, prose, craft, and arbitrary standards to create a highly performative and immersive experience. For newcomers, the poster session presents a windy atmosphere of support and loneliness, providing a collective rite of passage but denying feedback and comfort. If not for the thumbtacks strewn about, seeing the soft walls, bright colors, and punny titles would imply a nursery where new scientists are awkwardly prepared for release into the wild. This innocence can feel tragic with seasoned awareness of what may lie ahead for these students. Try not to get lost.