Book excerpt: Ladies and Gentlemen, dear colleagues, Welcome in Bodrum to the NASion Hot and Dense Nuclear Matter! Welcome also to Mrs. Governor Dr. Lale AYTAMAN. We are very honored, that you, Governor of the Mugla-State, came here to greet us. We are particularly grateful to you that you offered help and assured us to do everything that we can enjoy two safe weeks in Bodrum, in this wonderful area of your country. I have chosen Bodrum as the place for our NASI because I like this historic region where many cultures meet (e. g. , Oriental and European (Greek, Roman) culture) and where you find numerous places which played a role in ancient science and in early Christianity- I mention Milet (Thales) and Ephesus (Apostle Paulus), both of which are close by. Our NASI will exhibit the most recent developments in high energy heavy ion physics. The meeting is both a school and a conference: A school, because there are very many advanced students, who frequently are themselves already top researchers, attending the lectures of distinguished scientists and leading researchers. It is also a conference because new material, new results of this exciting and wonderful field - our field - high energy heavy ion physics will be presented. It is the topic of hot and dense nuclear matter, which we are focusing on.