SGSC 2026

The conference goal

The purpose of the conference is to celebrate the graduate students of the Structures Group. The conference will provide a nice and relaxed environment for all the students to present their work to their peers and to the industry. The conference will provide networking opportunities between different research groups within our Structures Group and industry partners.

The emphasis throughout the conference is on sharing ideas and experiences and building a bridge between the students in the Structures Group and the industry.

The conference location

The conference is to be held at the following location:
Sandman Hotel
10235 101 St NW,
Edmonton, AB T5J 3E9

Call for Abstracts

The University of Alberta Structures Graduate Students Conference seeks submissions from academia presenting novel research results in all practical and theoretical aspects of structural engineering. Accepted abstracts will grant presenters the opportunity to give an oral presentation at the conference.

Submitted abstracts should follow the template and requirements found under the “Abstract Template” and should be related to Structural Engineering.

Submission and Notification Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline: November 30th, 2025 at 11:59 pm (MDT)
Notification of Acceptance: December 30th, 2025

Guidelines for Oral Presentations and Posters

Oral Presentation Guidelines

• Presentations should be prepared in a commonly compatible format, e.g., PowerPoint 2010 or 2013.
• Presentations are to be submitted by September 27th at 11:59 pm (MDT), by emailing to sgsc.uofa@gmail.com.
• A brief description of the presenter’s most relevant work (i.e., bio) should accompany the presentation document.
• The presenter is responsible for ensuring that all compatibility issues relating to videos or animations in the presentation are resolved before the start of their session.
• Presenters are encouraged to arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the presentations begin.
• The total time allotted for each presentation is 15 minutes, consisting of 10 minutes for the presentation, 3 minutes for questions, and 2 minutes for an introduction by the session chairs. The presenter would be signaled at 8 minutes and be allowed to finish the presentation within the next 2 minutes.

Poster Presentation Guidelines

• Posters must be 3 x 2 feet and can be printed in landscape or portrait.
• The poster should include a title and the presenter’s full name.
• Presenters will be assigned a time slot and numbered space at the venue.
• Display boards will be provided with push pins for mounting the posters.
• Presenters should remain by their posters the entire time of the assigned session to answer questions and get evaluated.

Tips for Oral Presentations

• Only the most relevant/captivating aspects of the study should be discussed in the presentations.

Criteria for Judging Oral Presentations

The judges will evaluate oral presentations based on the following aspects:

• Originality and significance of the study.
• Relevance of the study to the Structural Engineering community, either industry- or research-oriented.
• Organization and delivery of the presentation.

Tips for Poster Presentations

• Text fonts should be legible.
• The poster should include test results, graphics, and the use of colors to add emphasis.
• The poster should be self-explanatory.

Criteria for Judging Poster Presentations

The judges will evaluate poster presentations based on the following aspects:

• Originality and significance of the study.
• Relevance of the study to the Structural Engineering community, either industry- or research-oriented.
• Presentation Medium: Logical layout, text legibility, and image clarity.
• Presenter: Organization and delivery of the presentation.