This proceedings volume brings together the contributions of experts from different fields within the nuclear physics community. Topics such as rare kaon decays, astrophysics, relativistic heavy ion collisions, and few-GeV electromagnetic probes are covered. The strange quark plays a vital role in understanding such diverse phenomena as CP violation (article by Lincoln Wolfenstein), the “spin crisis” (article by Brad Filipone), and supernova explosions (article by Chris Fryer). Additional topics of interest are parity violation experiments, strangeness content of the proton, and enhanced strangeness production at CERN and RHIC. This unique blend of recent results, with a focus on the role of the strange quark, shows the prominence of strangeness in nuclear physics over the past 50 years.

This proceedings volume brings together the contributions of experts from different fields within the nuclear physics community. Topics such as rare kaon decays, astrophysics, relativistic heavy ion collisions, and few-GeV electromagnetic probes are covered. The strange quark plays a vital role in understanding such diverse phenomena as CP violation (article by Lincoln Wolfenstein), the ?spin crisis? (article by Brad Filipone), and supernova explosions (article by Chris Fryer). Additional topics of interest are parity violation experiments, strangeness content of the proton, and enhanced strangeness production at CERN and RHIC. This unique blend of recent results, with a focus on the role of the strange quark, shows the prominence of strangeness in nuclear physics over the past 50 years.

"This proceedings volume brings together the contributions of experts from different fields within the nuclear physics community. Topics such as rare kaon decays, astrophysics, relativistic heavy ion collisions, and few-GeV electromagnetic probes are covered. The strange quark plays a vital role in understanding such diverse phenomena as CP violation (article by Lincoln Wolfenstein), the "spin crisis" (article by Brad Filipone), and supernova explosions (article by Chris Fryer). Additional topics of interest are parity violation experiments, strangeness content of the proton, and enhanced strangeness production at CERN and RHIC. This unique blend of recent results, with a focus on the role of the strange quark, shows the prominence of strangeness in nuclear physics over the past 50 years."--Publisher's website.

The main theme of the workshop is to discuss problems of nucleosynthesis in the Universe, specifically in connections to the unstable atomic nuclei, which would play a crucial role in explosive burning processes. This subject is strongly backed up by an increasing interest in studying unstable nuclei in nuclear physics.The subjects include primordial nucleosynthesis, Hot-CNO cycle and rapid-proton process, neutrino-induced nucleosynthesis, equation of state of neutron-rich matter etc.

This volume deals mainly with physics related to the RHIC. It contains one of the first reports on the results of RHIC experiments.

Valerio Filippini devoted his life to physics. His scientific contributions were provided in the OBELIX and FINUDA experiments. The FINUDA experiment collected physics data immediately after the roll-in, thanks to the reliability and simplicity of the on-line system designed and assembled by the physicist. This work is dedicated to him.