  The modern theory of the atomic nucleus results from the merging of the
liquid drop (Niels Bohr and Fritz Kalckar) and of the shell model (Marie
Goeppert Meyer and Axel Jensen), which contributed the concepts of collective
excitations and of independent-particle motion respectively. The unification of
these apparently contradictory views in terms of the particle-vibration
(rotation) coupling (Aage Bohr and Ben Mottelson) has allowed for an ever
increasingly complete, accurate and detailed description of the nuclear
structure, Nuclear Field Theory (NFT, developed by the Copenhagen-Buenos Aires
collaboration) providing a powerful quantal embodiment. In keeping with the
fact that reactions are not only at the basis of quantum mechanics (statistical
interpretation, Max Born) , but also the specific tools to probe the atomic
nucleus, NFT is being extended to deal with processes which involve the
continuum in an intrinsic fashion, so as to be able to treat them on an equal
footing with those associated with discrete states (nuclear structure). As a
result, spectroscopic studies of transfer to continuum states could eventually
use at profit the NFT rules, extended to take care of recoil effects. In the
present contribution we review the implementation of the NFT program of
structure and reactions, setting special emphasis on open problems and
outstanding predictions.
