The Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Chinese Geophysical Society along with co-sponsors The Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Korean Society of Earth and Exploration Geophysicists and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Japan announce the i rst conference on Near Surface geophysics and related topics to be held in Beijing, China in 17–19 July 2013. The conference will focus on near surface issues within the Asia Pacii c region and will bring new technology and the application of various techniques to advance near surface geophysics in the i elds of engineering, construction, hydrogeological, environmental and humanitarian areas.