The organizers of the Eighth International Conference on Aeolian Research (ICAR VIII) would like to extend our cordial invitation to you. ICAR VIII is planned to be held in Lanzhou, China between July 21 (Monday) and 25 (Friday), 2014 (including field trip). The conference organizers expect that this meeting will provide an update on the state of the science of research on aeolian processes, but will also be useful to draw the attention of society to these important issues. The International Conferences for Aeolian Research (ICAR conferences) are sponsored by the International Society for Aeolian Research (ISAR). They attract aeolian geomorphologists, geologists, physical scientists, soil scientists, climatologists, ecologists and erosion specialists from around the world to discuss the latest challenges and discoveries of aeolian research. Previous conferences have been held in Aarhus, Denmark (1985), Sandbjerg, Denmark (1990), Zyzxx, CA, USA (1994), Oxford, UK (1998), Lubbock, USA (2002), Guelph, Canada (2006), and Santa Rosa, Argentina (2010).