Poster Contest

"Biomedical Research Saves Lives"

2025 PSBR Poster Contest

Eligibility: All students in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia including (but not limited to): public and private schools, home and cyber schools, and youth organizations.

Details: Discover the connection between biomedical research and your life! The poster contest provides the opportunity for students to illustrate different aspects of biomedical research and science through art. The contest is free to enter and consists of cash prizes and an invitation to our awards dinner.

Contest Themes:

3 R's: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement
Advancements in Biotechnology
Animal Research Saves Lives
Careers in Biomedical Research
Veterinary Advancements: Animal Research Helping Animals

View the winning posters from last year's contest

Winners: Winners will receive a $100 cash prize, a copy of a calendar featuring all the winning submissions, and an invitation to attend our Annual Awards Dinner in Hershey, PA on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Winners will be notified on or after May 13, 2025.)

Topic Resources: See "Biomedical Research Information"under our "Resources' tab to see additional websites, videos, blogs, and PDFs with facts about biomedical research and animals. We also have our own information section under the Animal Research tab on our website.

Judging Rubric: Poster judging rubric

Submission: Deadline= 11:59pm on MARCH 9, 2025

A release form must be securely attached to the back of the poster.

Posters can be mailed to PSBR. Submissions postmarked by 11:59pm on March 9, 2025 (but received after) will be eligible to win.

Mailing Address: PSBR, Attn: Poster Contest, PO Box 1163, Camp Hill, PA 17001-1163

Street Mailing Address (will be needed if mailing through UPS, FedEx or any company other than USPS): PSBR, Attn: Poster Contest, 1675 Camp Hill Byp #1163, Camp Hill, PA 17001

Digital posters and release forms can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Subject Line: Poster Contest

View/Print a PDF of ALL the poster contest details including release form

Individual Documents:

Poster Requirements: Click here or scroll down

Poster Themes and Ideas: Click here or scroll down

Poster Release Form: Click here

Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 717-731-3559

Print a flyer to post in your classroom to remind students about our contests!

Click here for comprehensive contest rules and information.

Poster Requirements

"Biomedical Research Saves Lives" Poster Contest

Posters created by students must be their own original artwork. Copyrighted characters (such as Superman) or copyrighted clip art will not be accepted.

Materials: Students may use a variety of media, physical (watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, chalk, markers, etc.) or computer graphics. Remember, brighter colors will reproduce better (i.e. light pencil marks will not show up). Keep in mind, most posters will likely be on public display, and should be easy to see or read.

Size & Layout: Minimum: 8 ½" x 11" - Maximum: 11" x 17"

layout

Landscape Layout ONLY

Release Form: Students must securely attach a signed and completed release form to the back of their poster.

Judging Criteria: View judging rubric

1. Clear message conveyed by the text and artwork

2. One of the poster themes is addressed

3. Creativity, originality and presentation quality

4. Visual clarity - easy to read (will reproduce well for calendar printing)

5. Bright and colorful

Submission Details:

Deadline = MARCH 9, 2025

A release form must be securely attached to the back of the poster.

Posters can be mailed to PSBR. Submissions postmarked by 11:59pm on March 9, 2025 (but received after) will be eligible to win.

Mailing Address: PSBR, Attn: Poster Contest, PO Box 1163, Camp Hill, PA 17001-1163

Street Mailing Address (will be needed if mailing through UPS, FedEx or any company other than USPS): PSBR, Attn: Poster Contest, 1675 Camp Hill Byp #1163, Camp Hill, PA 17001

Digital posters and release forms can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Subject Line: Poster Contest

View or print the full poster contest details

Questions? Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 717-731-3559

Theme Background and Ideas

"Biomedical Research Saves Lives" Poster Contest

Here are some suggestions for poster ideas, but students are free to use their imagination, as long as the basic theme is addressed.

Animal Research Saves Lives!

Virtually every major medical advancement of this century was made possible through research with animals. Your poster can feature a specific disease like polio or diabetes. You might illustrate how life is different today due to cures or treatments available for these diseases. Or you can feature a personal story of how animal research (or a medical treatment or cure) has affected you or a close relative.

Advancements in Biotechnology

Amazing advancements in biotechnology have resulted through animal research everything from developing mice that offer models for human diseases to the “pill cam" and functional artificial body parts! Your poster can feature one of the biotechnological advancements that are helping people or animals today (or will be in the future).

Careers in Biomedical Research

Most people think of a scientist or a doctor when considering a career in science. There is a very long list of careers that meet a wide range of interests these careers also advance medicine and science and help people and animals live longer, healthier lives. Some examples are: bioengineers, animal care technicians, veterinary technicians, veterinarians, hematologists, immunologists, many other “ologists," pharmacists, computer specialists, regulatory officers and inspectors, and more! Your poster can feature one or more science careers that support the advancement of medicine and/or science.

Veterinary Advancements: Animal Research Helping Animals

Veterinarians, regardless of their field of practice, all play a significant role in human health and animal health. Our pets and other animals in our society benefit from animal research too! Vaccines, antibiotics, and advancements in surgery have all lead to longer, healthier lives for animals. Your poster can show benefits for animals, feature a specific advancement, or share a specific story that has affected the life of an animal you know.

3 R's: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement

A widely accepted ethical framework for conducting scientific experiments using animals. Your poster can feature one of the many ways researchers use the 3 R's. Replacement refers to methods that avoid or replace the use of animals in scientific research by using other methods such as in vitro cell culture, computer modeling, or human volunteers. Reduction refers to methods which minimize animal use and enable researchers to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals, or to obtain more information from the same number of animals. Refinement refers to methods which minimize actual or potential pain, suffering, distress, and/or improve animal welfare in situations where the use of animals is unavoidable.