Preface. Part I: Observations of Non-Evolved Binaries. 1. Binary Statistics in Clusters and the Field; J.-C. Mermilliod. 2. Statistics of binaries with a B Type Primary; W. van Rensbergen. 3. Massive Binaries; B.D. Mason, et al. Part II: Observations of Evolved Binaries. 4. CVs, Super-Soft Sources and Double-Degenerates; T.R. Marsh. 5. Observing Globular Cluster Binaries With GR; M. Benacquista. 6. The Algol-Type Binaries; G.J. Peters. 7. Be stars: Single and Binary Components; D.R. Gies. 8. Chemically-peculiar Red Giant Binary Intruders; S. Van Eck, A. Jorissen. 9. Eccentricities of the Barium Stars; J. Lattanzio, et al. 10. HMXBs and OB-runaways; L. Kaper. 11. The Galactic Wolf-Rayet Distribution; K.A. van der Hucht. 12. WR Binaries in the Magellanic Clouds; C. Foellmi, A.F.J. Moffat. 13. An X-ray Examination of Runaway Stars; E.J.A. Meurs, et al. 14. HST FGS1R Observations of WR Stars; D. Wallace, et al. Part III: Starbursts, Supernovae, Stellar Winds. 15. High Energy Emission from Starburst Galaxies; I.R. Stevens. 16. Supernova Types and Rates; E. Cappellaro, M. Turatto. 17. Massive Stellar Winds; P.A. Crowther. Part IV: Stellar Evolution. 18. Evolution of Massive Stars; A. Maeder. 19. Massive Close Binaries; D. Vanbeveren. 20. Massive Single and Binary Star Models; N. Langer, et al. 21. Evolution of Low- and Intermediate-Mass Stars; N. Mowlavi. 22. The Evolution of Intermediate-Mass Binaries; P.P. Eggleton. 23. Binaries in Triple Systems; L. Kiseleva-Eggleton, P.P. Eggleton. Part V: Population Synthesis. 24. The Population of Cataclysmic Variable Systems; U. Kolb. 25. Close Double White Dwarfs; L.R. Yungelson, et al. 26. The Population of Low- and Intermediate-Mass XRBs; Ph. Podsiadlowski, et al. 27. Simulating Open Star Clusters; S.F. Portegies Zwart, et al. 28. Binaries and Globular Cluster Dynamics; F.A. Rasio, et al. 29. The effect of tides and stellar dynamics; O.R. Pols, et al. 30. Massive Star Population Synthesis of Starbursts; J. Van Bever, D. Vanbeveren. 31. Radioactivities in Population Studies; S. Plüschke, et al. 32. Binary Population Synthesis; V. Kalogera, K. Belczynski. 33. Population Synthesis and Gamma-Ray Burst Progenitors; C.L. Fryer. 34. General Discussion on PNS modelling; E.P.J. v.d. Heuvel. Part VI: Chemical Evolution of Galaxies. 35. Element Abundances and Galactic Chemical Evolution; S.G. Ryan. 36. Hypernovae and Chemical evolution; K. Nomoto, et al. 37. Binaries and Chemical Evolution; E. De Donder, D. Vanbeveren. Part VII: Poster Papers. 38. Intermediate Visual Double Stars; A. Strigachev, et al. 39. The X-ray Output of Evolving Stellar Populations; L. Norci, E.J.A. Meurs. 40. The CV Minimum Period Problem;

A star in a binary may interact with its companion and this complicates significantly its structure and evolution. During several decades in the past many astronomers hoped that the number of binaries is small. This is sometimes reflected in theoretical studies dealing with large populations of stars where it is ASSUMED (without any justification) that binaries do not alter the results. The number of confirmed binaries increases as observations improve and we there­ fore thought that the time was right to organize a meeting where the main topic would be the effect of binaries on stellar population studies. The SOC proposed a program with extended general overviews and highlights of non-evolved and evolved binaries, with low mass, intermediate mass and massive components, the link with supernova explosions, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts, the effect of binaries on the chemical evo­ lution of galaxies. Specialists in the different research fields were invited and have given very interesting and highly educational talks. As can be noticed by reading the proceedings, the authors have put a lot of effort in preparing their contribution.