Talks vs. poster presentations: Which is better for advertising your research and building research networks?

Question

I'm looking into applying to present at a conference for undergraduates in mathematics this summer. When I apply, I have to either apply to give a talk (~20 minutes) or present a poster.From what I've read on this site, it seems posters are often looked down on relative to talks, especially in mathematics. However, one advantage of a poster session is that I can have a back-and-forth discussion which is impossible in a talk. I think this is especially important for my research, since the computations in the subject are notoriously tricky and will trip up even experts if they aren't paying close attention to the details.What are the relative advantages/disadvantages of each format? Which is a better way to advertise my research and network with other researchers in my field?

Answer 1

I would recommend for your presentation is to do the combination of the two. Start with a 2-3 minute introduction of what is going to be discussed (Talk - Advertising). Then the next 10-15 minutes focus on the "meat" of the presentation via power point slides with an included poster (Talk, Detailed overview of Research/Building Networks, and Poster of Research/Building Network Diagrams). For the last 3-5 minutes ask audience for any questions, and have note cards for general responses. This will allow you plenty of time to focus on the topic at hand, within out running out of time during a back and forth discussion. Plus you can always have the audience reach out to you afterwards for any additional questions or information.

Regards,

Ranbir B.