Pion-nuclear scattering

In the present study pion-nuclear scattering is reviewed emphasizing basic interactions and symmetries. It will be outlined that (while pions are still regarded widely as an exotic probe in nuclear physics studies) it has become clear in recent years that those investigations have reached their maturity and have become competitive with, and are complementary to, nuclear studies by means of more familiar probes like electrons, protons etc. Pion physics has improved the understanding of nuclear physics by more accurate experiments using better beams and more sophisticated techniques and superior equipment, by extremely complex theoretical calculations available promptly in response to the latest experimental results, and by discoveries which have yielded really new and surprising insight into many questions. Topics of fundamental interest in the future will certainly be how to elucidate the role that the pion plays when it interacts with nuclei in terms of its connection to chiral symmetry and the dynamical breaking of the latter or how can pion physics contribute to questions that are asked under the guidance of QCD.