Interested in engineering research? Explore the Young Researchers Conference 2026

Sometimes the most interesting ideas sit just outside our module materials. The Young Researchers Conference 2026, organised by the Institution of Structural Engineers, gives us a chance to hear early-career researchers share work that could shape the future of our built environment.

Taking place on Thursday, 19 March from 10am to 3:55pm, the conference will be available both online and at the Institution’s headquarters in London, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of where you are studying from.

The conference features presentations from emerging engineers and postgraduate researchers working in structural engineering and related disciplines. Through these talks, we’ll hear about current research, the challenges researchers are exploring, and how new ideas could influence the way infrastructure is designed, built, and maintained.

Topics discussed at the conference often include areas such as:

• Structural analysis and design
• Advanced materials and sustainable construction
• Infrastructure resilience and safety
• Digital engineering and modelling techniques

If you are studying engineering or another STEM subject, events like this can offer an inspiring glimpse into how academic research can lead to real-world impact. Many of the ideas being explored may go on to influence the engineering practices and technologies of the future.

At the same time, the conference is open to anyone with an interest in research, innovation, or the built environment. Even if you are not studying a STEM subject, it can still be fascinating to see how researchers approach complex challenges and develop practical solutions that improve everyday life.

It’s also a chance to hear how researchers turned questions and ideas into real projects and discoveries. Many of the speakers started exactly where many of us are now; asking questions, exploring ideas, and gradually turning them into meaningful research. Moments like this remind us that the ideas we’re exploring today can shape the world of tomorrow.