CFGA Scientific Poster & Infographic Showcase 

Showcase your expertise and research

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is hosting a scientific poster and infographic platform opportunity in conjunction with the 2020 11th annual CFGA conference, Nov. 18 and 19, 2020.

The CFGA provides a national voice for all Canadians who produce hay and forage products and for those whose production is dependent upon forage and grassland production. This opportunity is open to eligible student research, English or French, which may be of interest to CFGA members.

Due to COVID-19, we are not holding a competition this year, however, students who participate in this event will receive an 85% discount on the CFGA conference VIP registration fee. That's a $305 saving which gives students 12 month access to the CFGA conference presentations at a rate of $50. Students will receive the discount code after they've submitted their poster per the details below.

Poster and infographic rules and details: The student must have conducted the research, or come up with the proposed concept as presented in the poster or infographic. Students must be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs, and are eligible to submit for 12 months after the month of graduation.

Competition format: Students will produce a poster or infographic and submit it in a pdf format to info@canadianfga.ca following registration. They must also submit an accompanying video link with their poster or infographic as described below. The posters or infographics and a link to the videos will be displayed on the CFGA website for viewing. 

Poster specifications: 48”w x 36”h – landscape – pdf file no greater than 25 mb in size

• Include the correct university logo
• You are NOT required to print your poster for this online competition.

File naming requirements: Use this file naming convention for your pdf file:

2020-CFGA-LASTNAME-FIRSTNAME.pdf (upper or lowercase)

Deadline: Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, 5 p.m. PST.

Scientific posters

Scientific content

• Introduction and background with pertinent literature cited
• Title relevant to poster content
• Abstract information, well written, correlates with poster content and printed on poster
• Objectives or hypotheses clearly stated and concise
• Materials and methods (study design) clear, concise and appropriate to the problem
• Interpretation of results and analysis clear, concise and accurate
• Significance of results to field of study clearly discussed 

Poster display

• Organization
  • Logical order; minimum redundancy
  • Effective use of space; smooth transitions between sections
• Visual aides
  • Legible with large fonts, colour contrast, no conflicting backgrounds
  • Text without grammatical errors; not excessively wordy
  • Effective use of figures and/or tables; coordinated with and cited in text 

Infographics

Scientific content

• Title appropriate for presentation content
• Content is concise but accuracy is not compromised for simplicity
• Content creates intrigue and/or surprise
• Do you think the viewer would come away with a better understanding of the subject after viewing the infographic?
• Significance of subject matter is clear. What new information does this infographic present and why is it important?
• Relevant citations are included

Infographic display

• Organization
• Big picture, "take-home" message is immediately evident
• Effective use of space; smooth transitions between sections

Visual aids

• Legible with large fonts, colour contrast, no conflicting backgrounds
• Overall infographic is pleasant to view
• Use of graphical elements is creative or innovative
• Evokes an emotional response to learn more or take action
• Viewer feels compelled to share the infographic

Video

The video should capture you explaining your poster in a maximum time of four minutes.

• Search "Three Minute Thesis" for tips and videos, such as here, on how to prepare your research in a succinct way.
• Your video will allow viewers to watch you present as if you were at an in-person poster session.
• It is not required that your poster be in view (in the background) while filming your presentation.
• The poster pdf will be on the webpage next to the link to your video presentation, when uploaded, to allow viewers to see your poster and watch your presentation.

 

Video must be no longer than four minutes in length.

• The link can be Public or Unlisted but must be included in the submission form as a link. Information on the difference between these two options and how to change these settings can be found on this Google YouTube info page.

• When posting your video to YouTube include the following info in your video:
  • Title of your poster
  • Your name, university, department, faculty
  • This text:

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) Poster/Infographic Showcase is an annual event that takes place in November each year.

The event provides undergraduate students of Canadian universities the opportunity to present research they've conducted with their advisors over the past year on forages and grasslands. The breadth and variety of research is significant.

Due to the ongoing pandemic in 2020, the Showcase is taking place online, and this year, is purely an opportunity for students to showcase their work. There is no competition. Students entering the competition/display receive a $250+ discount on the conference registration rate, including online access to the conference proceedings for a full year.

Video FAQs

Q. How long should my video be?

A. Maximum length is four minutes. 

Q. How do I record the video?

A. The video can be recorded using a camera or smartphone and then uploaded to YouTube. As long as it is an uploaded video of you presenting your research posted on YouTube, how you record it is up to you.

Q. How do I post a video to YouTube?

A. Visit Google's page for "How to upload videos to YouTube" from your computer, smartphone or tablet.

Q. How do I make my poster Unlisted on YouTube, to protect my Intellectual Property, if I am planning to publish my research?

A. This link to Google provides an overview of the difference between a Private and Unlisted video. For the CFGA Showcase you must provide either a Public or Unlisted link to the video in the submission form.

 Infographic details

Below is a list of online infographic design templates to help (both free and low cost). Explore your options to find a platform that works for you.

Canva: With over two million icons, illustrations and stock photos, you’ll be sure to find something you can use. Free templates are available to help you get started and try out the platform.

Piktochart: Monthly and annual pricing available, this platform specializes in creating interactive charts and maps.

Venngage: For a more data-driven platform with advance charts or infographic templates sorted by use and audience, this fee service is another option to bring your message to life.

 Some examples of infographics from the 2019 Growing Agri- Food KTT in Ontario session can be found here.

Good luck! We look forward to seeing your submissions.

 

 

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