As the world’s population approaches 7 billion people, the demand on our planets resources and the pressure on its fragile environment has never been greater. Central to both these issues is the role of geoscience and engineering. Together these disciplines search out new resources and find ever more sophisticated ways of developing them, economically and sustainably. Fundamental to this task is the requirement to operate safely, yet constantly address risk and move beyond the conventional world, to change the frontier of what is known and what is possible.

This requirement, of constantly “Changing Frontiers”, will be the theme of the 2013 EAGE Conference and Exhibition to be held in London.

On behalf of the EAGE and the London '13 Local Area Committee, I would like to invite you to join us to participate in what I am sure will be an energising and informative conference, built around the “Changing Frontiers” theme.

Set in the historic and vibrant city of London, a place of changing frontiers itself, the conference theme will lead us to examine the changing frontier of new plays; sub-salt, pre-salt and passive margins. We will explore the changing frontier of the conventional/ unconventional resource boundary and how hydraulic fracturing technology has revolutionised the US gas market and hold the possibility to do the same globally. The conference will also consider the changing frontiers of engineering and how we develop and produce new sources of resource. We will examine the changing frontiers of technology, of subsurface imaging, of logging capability and of integration and visualisation.

A wealth of workshops and specialist sessions will enable you to deepen your knowledge and air some views. And of course a strong and interesting series of field trips will enlighten you in, amongst other things, the role geology plays in many of London’s great buildings and the Jurassic Petroleum system of southern England.

There will also be a number of social events for you to get to know London, get to know the other participants and to meet with fellow professionals and specialists.

The Conference opens on Monday 10 June at 16:00 with a small, high profile cast of engaging speakers who will welcome you and set the tone and quality for what promises to be a truly exceptional Conference and Exhibition.