Hydraulic transport of solid materials is one of the important technological processes of many industries and, first of all mining, building, chemical, etc. Moving of solid particles by water flows has significant influence on hydraulic engineering constructions, irrigational systems, erosion of the rivers channels and lakes. Significant complexity of physical-mechanical processes of solid and liquid phases at interaction demands all-round and deep studying these phenomena, development of new approaches to the decision of practical problems. Achievements of science and technology in the field of hydraulic transport of solid particles are a basis of development and introduction in industry of the advanced technologies raising efficiency of hydraulic transport, reducing specific losses of the energy, raising reliability and service life of the applied equipment. Last ten years there was a tendency of hydraulic transport of hydro-mixes of the high concentration condensed up to a condition of paste. This tendency allows on the one hand, to reduce need for water for hydrotransport and diameters of pipelines with high efficiency process, and from other hand, puts a problem on creation of new theoretical models for research rheological properties of such pulps and to creation of new settlement techniques of hydraulic transportation, hydro-mechanical characteristics of applied pumps and thickeners, mathematical simulation of stable and equilibrium river bed profiles and slopes, computational fluid dynamics, and software for slurry pipeline simulation. We have organized this 14th International Conference on the Transport and Sedimentation of Solid Particles to provide a forum for specialists, practitioners, academics and researchers to explore the latest developments in the field. The conference venue in Saint Petersburg's Mining State Mining Institute, in Saint Petersburg that is Russian's most popular tourist destination, provides an ideal environment for conference delegates to interact. We look forward to your participation at the conference in June 2008. At this time of year it is possible to observe the unique white nights, when as Russian poet Alexander Pushkin has told "one dawn hastens to replace another, having given to night only a floor of hour".

The Winter Palace, view from Troitsky bridge