At the end of this year, the Sonderforschungsbereich (Special Collaborative Programme) no. 132 on “Theoretical and Observational Stellar Astronomy” in Heidelberg will terminate after fifteen years. Although 15 years are only 2 1/2 per cent of the age of the University of Heidelberg, which is celebrating its 600 th anniversary this year, they are nevertheless a long and important time for astronomical research in Heidelberg. On the occasion of the termination of the Sonderforschungsbereich, we are now given the opportunity to present an essential part of its research, namely that on circumstellar matter at an international conference, and we are grateful to the International Astronomical Union that this could be realized, and that we can welcome here so many participants to this Symposium. As the Speaker of our Sonderforschungsbereich I would like to briefly introduce to you the general concept of the institution of an SFB and give an overview over its structure and research activities.