Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era: 4. Workshop

We introduce the volume that collects the papers presented at the 4. Workshop Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era, held in Rome on October 18-22, 2004. After a general introduction and description of the Workshop, we briefly review the hot topics in GRB science which were discussed during the conference and are the subject of many articles included in these proceedings. Finally we focus on future prospects for GRB science at the beginning of the Swift era and beyond