It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the 47th Annual Meeting of the European Radiation Research Society (ERRS 2022), which will be held from September 21st until September 24th, 2022 in Catania (Italy) at "Monastero dei Benedettini", which hosts the Department of Human Sciences of the Catania University. The 2022 meeting will be organized by the Italian Society for Radiation Research (SIRR), which will also have its XX meeting; it is already the 7th time that the ERRS annual meeting is hosted in Italy, after Cortina d'Ampezzo (1959), Col de Voza (1964), Rome (1972), Pisa (1986), Capri (1998) and Vietri Sul Mare (2012).

In addition to the University, Catania also hosts the "Laboratori Nazionali del Sud" (LNS), one of the four national laboratories of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), where in addition to nuclear physics studies, radiobiology experiments are also carried out. Furthermore, eye melanoma patients are treated by protons at the CATANA facility, thanks to a collaboration involving INFN, the Catania Policlinico Hospital and the University of Catania. We therefore believe that the research and educational activities that are carried out in Catania will provide an ideal environment for a fruitful and productive meeting. The Congress will be an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences, to discuss the main challenges and to discover new research frontiers, as well as to generate new ideas, plans and collaborations, possibly stimulated by the energy coming from the Etna volcano.

Founded in the 8th century BC by Greeks on Sicily's east coast, into the Renaissance period Catania was one of Italy's most important political and cultural centres and became the site of Sicily's first university, founded in 1434. Nowadays, Catania is the industrial and commercial center of Sicily, and hosts the largest airport in Southern Italy. However, it is also well known for its history, culture and architecture: the "old town" features some of the most striking examples of baroque architecture in Italy and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We are thus confident that ERRS 2022 will represent an unforgettable professional and personal experience for all participants, also providing a good networking for their scientific careers. Following the tradition of the ERRS meetings, several young investigator awards (YIA) will be made available, both from ERRS and from the various national societies including SIRR.

So, we look forward to welcoming you in Catania!

On behalf of SIRR - Italian Society for Radiation Research

Francesca Ballarini
SIRR President