Nuclear physics research at heavy ion accelerators: Precision studies with stored and cooled exotic nuclei

Abstract This contribution is based on the plenary presentation at the 14 th International Conference on Heavy Ion Accelerator Technology (HIAT-2018) in Lanzhou, China. Heavy-ion storage rings offer unparalleled opportunities for precision experiments in the realm of nuclear structure, atomic physics and astrophysics. A brief somewhat biased review of the presently ongoing research programs is given as well as the future projects are outlined. The limited space does not allow for detailed description of individual experiments, which shall – to some extent – be compensated by extended bibliography.