PGEM Conference

Gain valuable early career experience as a conference delegate and the opportunity to network and advance your career in a more relaxed environment

The Postgraduate Experimental Mechanics Conference (PGEM) is an annual early career conference which allows postgraduate students (MSc, MEng and PhD etc.) and postdocs to present their work in the field of engineering measurement and experimental techniques in stress, strain and vibration analysis in a friendly environment among fellow early career researchers.

The event is usually hosted at a UK University, but delegates from around the world are always welcome. For students new to presenting at academic conferences, this is an ideal way to get some valuable experience in a more relaxed environment.  The Keynote Lecture is typically geared up to offer some sage career advice to delegates.

As well as the serious stuff, the event is also designed as a social event to allow you to get to know colleagues at a similar career stage from other institutions. This can be very valuable at the early career stage.

2027 PGEM

In 2027 we are joining forces with The International Digital Image Correlation Society to run various pre-conference courses and activities.

So, the format of PGEM will be slightly different from previous years but will include valuable experiences for early-career attendees.

2026 PGEM 

PGEM 2026  will take place on Monday 7 September 2026, the day before the BSSM's 20th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Mechanics at Swansea Arena, UK. Delegates are welcome to attend both events 

The PGEM 2026 3 Minute Thesis competition was sponsored by BSSM Corporate Member Correlated Solutions

First Prize (£100),  Emma Garschagen, University of Sheffield
Runner-Up (£70),  Jangam Babu,  IIT Madras
Delegate's Choice (£50),  Waleed Albustami,  Swansea University

2025 PGEM 

PGEM 2025  took place at Imperial College London, UK. 

2024 PGEM 

Hosted by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington, London, UK.

2024 Winners

2022 Winners

Hosted by the University of Bristol

Best presentation Winner Robert Hamill (University of Southampton)
2nd Prize Tamsin Dobson (University of Bristol)
3rd Prize Richard Brooks  (Imperial College London)

2020 Winners

2020 Online Event hosted by University of Manchester

Best presentation Winner Mateusz Kopec (Imperial College London)
2nd Prize Bemin Sheen (Imperial College London)
3rd Prize Alex Hamilton (University of Glasgow)

2020 PGEM Speakers and Keynote - presentations available to view below

Tobias Laux's Keynote 'Experimental and numerical characterisation of composite laminates subjected to multiaxial loading'.

Peter Bailey from Instron discusses why filtering or smoothing data may not be such a good thing.

Amy Johnson from GOM's tongue in cheek introduction to DIC measurement uses and limitations entitled 'Can DIC save your PhD?'